Optoelectronic transversal filter

Abstract

The development of a 1 GHz bandwidth, 15 tap transversal filter with optical fibre delays and controllable bipolar weights set with variable sensitivity GaAs metal–semiconductor–metal photodetectors is reported. The performance of the filter is demonstrated by configuring it as tunable bandpass filter. The use of optoelectronically set bipolar weights represents a significant advance over previously demonstrated optical fibre transversal filters.