Patent ID: 7650080

Claim:
A spread spectrum waveform generator comprising: (a) a photonic oscillator comprising a multi-tone optical comb generator for generating a series of RF comb lines on an optical carrier; (b) an optical heterodyne synthesizer, the optical heterodyne synthesizer including first and second phase-locked lasers, the first laser feeding the multi-tone optical comb generator and the second laser comprising a single tone laser whose output light provides a frequency translation reference; and (c) a photodetector for heterodyning the frequency translation reference with the series of RF comb lines on the optical carrier generated by the photonic oscillator to generate a spread spectrum waveform, and wherein the photonic oscillator comprises: a first optical branch comprising a first optical delay element; a second optical branch comprising a main optical fiber having a forward direction of light propagation; a third optical branch, said third optical branch providing a Stokes beam to said second optical branch, said Stokes beam propagating in said main optical fiber in a direction opposite to said forward direction of light propagation; and a common path, said common path comprising: an optical portion having an optical modulator providing an optical signal to said first optical branch, said second optical branch, and said third optical branch; and an electrical portion having at least one photodetector coupled to said first optical branch and said second optical branch, said at least one photodetector producing an electrical signal coupled to said optical modulator.