All-optical SOA latch fail-safe alarm system

Alastair D. McAulay

doi:10.1117/12.560525

4 November 2004 All-optical SOA latch fail-safe alarm system

Alastair D. McAulay

Proceedings Volume 5556, Photonic Devices and Algorithms for Computing VI; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.560525
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Emergency alarm systems, for example, that switch off critical processes in process plant, are vulnerable to deliberate or accidental sabotage through coupling of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) to wires and/or from sparks due to broken wires. A proposed system significantly reduces vulnerability by using a fast all-optical latch in conjunction with an optical sensor and optical fibers. Sparks cannot be created on breaking an optical beam and electromagnetic field transients have negligible effect on optical signals. The optical latch uses optical semiconductor amplifiers (SOAs) configured to form a flip-flop. The flip-flop latches after the occurrence of an intrusion that may be as short as a few nanoseconds, much faster than most environmental changes occur. Detection of an emergency or any break in connections causes the light to drop, triggering the alarm. Computer simulation shows that the all-optical latch is fast and effective.

Citation Download Citation

Alastair D. McAulay "All-optical SOA latch fail-safe alarm system", Proc. SPIE 5556, Photonic Devices and Algorithms for Computing VI, (4 November 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.560525

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