Patent ID: 8270844

Claim:
A timing signal distribution system comprising: an optical frequency stabilized laser signal having an optical frequency ω op , wherein the laser signal is amplitude modulated at an rf frequency ω rf ; a transmitter box ( 110 ) temperature controlled to about ±0.01° C. having a first optical port ( 111 ) to receive the laser signal, a second optical port ( 112 ) to transmit a first portion of the laser signal and receive a modified optical signal, and a third optical port ( 113 ) to output a second portion of the laser signal and at least a portion of the returned modified optical signal; a first optical fiber ( 14 ) having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first optical port ( 111 ) to carry the first portion of the laser signal and the modified optical signal; a second optical fiber ( 24 ) having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the third optical port ( 113 ) to carry the second portion of the laser signal and the portion of the returned modified optical signal; a receiver box ( 130 ) temperature controlled to about ±0.01° C. having an optical receiver port ( 131 ) coupled at a second end of the first optical fiber ( 14 ) to receive the first portion of the laser signal and output the modified optical signal, a first electrical port ( 137 ) to receive an electrical frequency shift signal to shift the frequency of the first portion of the laser signal to provide the modified optical signal, and a second electrical port ( 139 ) to output an electrical signal on the basis of the first portion of the laser signal; a reference detector ( 234 ) at a second end of the second optical fiber ( 24 ) co-located with the receiver box ( 130 ) to output a detector signal on the basis of the modified optical signal carried over the second optical fiber ( 24 ); an optical delay sensing circuit ( 150 ) coupled to the reference detector ( 234 ) adapted to output a frequency signal to the first electrical port ( 137 ) of the receiver box ( 130 ) and output a data signal on the basis of the detected phase of the modified optical signal; and an rf phase detect and correct signal circuit ( 160 ) coupled to the receiver box second electrical port ( 139 ) and coupled to the optical delay sensing circuit ( 150 ) to receive the data signal, the rf phase detect and correct signal circuit ( 160 ) adapted to output a signal corresponding to a phase stabilized rf signal at the frequency ω rf on the basis of the data signal and the frequency received from the second electrical port ( 139 ).