Method and apparatus for generating data encoded pulses in return-to-zero format

摘要

A method and apparatus for converting a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) voltage data stream into an optical data stream in return-to-zero (RZ) format, is disclosed comprising supplying a continuous optical signal to a modulator, driving the modulator with an NRZ voltage data stream and encoding either the NRZ data stream or the electrical output of the receiver. The modulator can be an interferometer, such as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, or a directional coupler, for example. <IMAGE>