METHOD FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL KEYING USING MULTIPLE PULSES AND CURRENT STEPPING VIA SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS, DEVICES FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL KEYING OF OPTICAL CARRIERS, AND USE OF THE DEVICES

The present patent application relates to a method for electro-optical keying using electro-optical keys based on semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and devices for carrying out keying. In order to trigger the key, the method uses an electrical signal composed of various pulses (multiple pulses) that are added to the current step. This step is that which is normally used to actuate ordinary electro-optical keys, the multiple pulses introduced in the present patent being essential to improve the performance of the keys, by making them more rapid and affording less optical-signal distortion. In this way, the amplified electro-optical key incorporates ultra-rapid electronic circuits for generating a step-type current signal added to the multiple pulses, which, after injection into the SOA, render the latter capable of keying with rapidity and, at the same time, amplifying light packets modulated with dozens of gigabits per second. The present patent relates to uses in optical networks with direct keying of information packets and also uses in data centres. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of three devices for keying and amplifying modulated optical carrier waves.