Sampled analog transmission

Abstract

Analog information is modulated onto a high repetition rate optical pulse stream. This modulated pulse stream is transmitted over optical medium, such as long distances of fiber, and is then detected. The pulses are removed leaving only the original analog signals. The sampled encoding onto pulses allows transmission of very broad band signals and mitigates the deleterious effects of self phase modulation, dispersion and Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

1. A signal modulating apparatus comprising:
 a means to generate an optical pulse train,  
 a means for modulating the pulse train with a signal carrying time varying information,  
 a means to transmit this sample signal over an optical span or plethora of spans,  
 a means to detect the sampled signals,  
 and a means to remove the pulses so as to recover the original time varying information.  
 
   
   
     2. A signal modulating apparatus as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein said modulation comprises change in optical pulse amplitude and wherein said pulses are removed by a low pass electrical filter.  
 
   
   
     3. A signal modulating apparatus as defined in  claim 1 ,
 wherein said modulation comprises change in optical pulse energy;  
 and wherein said pulses are removed by an integrator.  
 
   
   
     4. A signal modulating apparatus as defined in  claim 2 ,
 wherein said optical span is comprised of a combination of optical fibers, optical amplifiers, and dispersion compensators.