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Title: Pulse measurement apparatus and method

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a pulse measuring system that measures a characteristic of an input pulse under test, particularly the pulse shape of a single-shot, nano-second duration, high shape-contrast optical or electrical pulse. An exemplary system includes a multi-stage, passive pulse replicator, wherein each successive stage introduces a fixed time delay to the input pulse under test, a repetitively-gated electronic sampling apparatus that acquires the pulse train including an entire waveform of each replica pulse, a processor that temporally aligns the replicated pulses, and an averager that temporally averages the replicated pulses to generate the pulse shape of the pulse under test. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for measuring an optical or an electrical pulse shape. The method includes the steps of passively replicating the pulse under test with a known time delay, temporally stacking the pulses, and temporally averaging the stacked pulses. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for increasing the dynamic range of a pulse measurement by a repetitively-gated electronic sampling device having a rated dynamic range capability, beyond the rated dynamic range of the sampling device; e.g., enhancing the dynamic range of an oscilloscope.more » The embodied technique can improve the SNR from about 300:1 to 1000:1. A dynamic range enhancement of four to seven bits may be achieved.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Webster, NY
  2. Pittsford, NY
  3. Scottsville, NY
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1028489
Patent Number(s):
8044655
Application Number:
12/114,956
Assignee:
University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01R - MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES
DOE Contract Number:  
FC52-92SF19460
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Marciante, John R, Donaldson, William R, and Roides, Richard G. Pulse measurement apparatus and method. United States: N. p., 2011. Web.
Marciante, John R, Donaldson, William R, & Roides, Richard G. Pulse measurement apparatus and method. United States.
Marciante, John R, Donaldson, William R, and Roides, Richard G. Tue . "Pulse measurement apparatus and method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1028489.
@article{osti_1028489,
title = {Pulse measurement apparatus and method},
author = {Marciante, John R and Donaldson, William R and Roides, Richard G},
abstractNote = {An embodiment of the invention is directed to a pulse measuring system that measures a characteristic of an input pulse under test, particularly the pulse shape of a single-shot, nano-second duration, high shape-contrast optical or electrical pulse. An exemplary system includes a multi-stage, passive pulse replicator, wherein each successive stage introduces a fixed time delay to the input pulse under test, a repetitively-gated electronic sampling apparatus that acquires the pulse train including an entire waveform of each replica pulse, a processor that temporally aligns the replicated pulses, and an averager that temporally averages the replicated pulses to generate the pulse shape of the pulse under test. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for measuring an optical or an electrical pulse shape. The method includes the steps of passively replicating the pulse under test with a known time delay, temporally stacking the pulses, and temporally averaging the stacked pulses. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for increasing the dynamic range of a pulse measurement by a repetitively-gated electronic sampling device having a rated dynamic range capability, beyond the rated dynamic range of the sampling device; e.g., enhancing the dynamic range of an oscilloscope. The embodied technique can improve the SNR from about 300:1 to 1000:1. A dynamic range enhancement of four to seven bits may be achieved.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2011},
month = {10}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Picosecond optical sampling
journal, September 1974


Optical packet compressor for ultra-fast packet-switched optical networks
journal, January 1997


Static and synchronized switching noise management of replicated optical pulse trains
journal, August 2006