Offices of Technology Transfer
Welcome to the web site for the Offices of Technology Transfer. We are the teams who facilitate the protection of Intellectual Property and the commercialization—or transfer—of technologies resulting from the cutting-edge research being conducted by our world-class scientists, faculty, and staff here at the University of Rochester and the University of Rochester Medical Center.
We are here to translate scientific innovation into tangible products or methods that advance knowledge and serve the public good while returning income to the inventor and to the University to support further research.
October 2008: Featured Technology
Optical Flip-Flop Latching Switch with Remote Optical Control
In optical communication networks, this all-optical latching switch can be used for such network processes as bit-length
conversion, data format change, de-multiplexing, packet header buffering and re-timing in wavelength division multiplexed
(WMD) systems.
Optical flip-flops are applicable to any signal processing function that requires memory, particularly those that require
sequential logic. Examples of such uses are: data-format conversion, 3R regeneration, temporal de-multiplexing,
switching and routing, buffering, clocks, oscillators, clock dividers, latches, registers, counters, adders and
transistors. The technology can be applied in Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and in planar lightwave circuits
(PLCs) for those signal processing functions that require memory. PICs are used for optical signal transmitters and
receivers. The technology also allows a single pair of control signals to act on many flip-flops arranged in parallel,
which would provide flexibility and reduce power consumption in fan-out and photonic integrated circuits.
This concept could enable all-optical communication and data processing at speeds up to 100 GHz. Because such optical
switching is not yet possible, networks today convert optical signals to the electronic domain for any sequential data
processing requiring memory, with electrical flip-flop circuits typically limited to1 GHz. All-optical circuits will be
faster, more compact, less expensive and free from EMI/EMP interference. The control technique is expected to work over
a wide range of wavelengths with pulse width as small as 1 picosecond. The concept splits the function of the control
block, which is remote from the latching switch itself, which can be any optical flip-flop enabled by a holding beam,
including devices based on dispersive bistability, absorptive bistability and other nonlinear effects. The control
signals are communicated on the same fiber as the holding beam, and do not require a separate fiber. Many devices could
be controlled by single control block. The system does not require a clock, (asynchronous operation) because the set and
reset pulses are both derived from the same pulse. The concept has been demonstrated with sub-mililiwatt control pulses
at 1539 nm, with a pulse width of 5 ns, yielding an on-off contrast of greater than 3 dB.
For More Information, Contact:
Jack Fraser
Deputy Director
585.273.3250
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