초록 ▼

Electrical signals are measured (analyzed and displayed) with subpicosecond resolution by electro-optic sampling of the signal in an electro-optic crystal, the index of which changes in response to the electric field produced by the signal, in accordance with the Pockels effect. The crystal is dispo

Electrical signals are measured (analyzed and displayed) with subpicosecond resolution by electro-optic sampling of the signal in an electro-optic crystal, the index of which changes in response to the electric field produced by the signal, in accordance with the Pockels effect. The crystal is disposed adjacent to and in the fringe field of a line on a substrate, which may be part of an integrated circuit, for measuring signals propagating along the line during the operation of the circuit. A beam of short optical (laser) sampling pulses in the picosecond range is focused preferably close to the surface of the crystal and perpendicular to the optical axis of the crystal. The optical pulses transmitted through the crystal are processed to provide a display affording a measurement of the electrical signal.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of measuring an electrical signal on a line in a micro-circuit with subpicosecond resolution which comprises the steps of propagating said signal along a line on a substrate of said micro-circuit which creates an electric fringe field adjacent thereto, placing an electro-optic crystal of

The method of measuring an electrical signal on a line in a micro-circuit with subpicosecond resolution which comprises the steps of propagating said signal along a line on a substrate of said micro-circuit which creates an electric fringe field adjacent thereto, placing an electro-optic crystal of dimensions of the same order as the micro-dimensions of said line adjacent and outside of said line and said substrate so that said field passes through at least a portion of said crystal and changes the index of refraction thereof and the polarization of optical radiation therethrough in accordance with the Pockels effect, passing a beam of optical pulses through said crystal in a direction transverse to the direction of said field to optically sample successively occurring portions of said signal, and processing said samples to provide a display of said signal.