A method and system for converting an optical signal to electrical
information signals, including demodulated baseband information signals
and modulated baseband signals at multiple harmonics. In an embodiment,
the optical information signal is amplitude modulated with information.
The method converts an optical signal to electrical charge, accumulates
the electrical charge, and periodically transfers the accumulated
electrical charge to a storage device, whereby the periodically
transferred electrical charge forms the electrical signals. An exemplary
system includes an optical transducer and a universal frequency
translator coupled to an output of the optical transducer. The optical
transducer receives an optical signal and converts the optical signal to
electrical charge. The universal frequency translator periodically
transfers energy from the electrical charge and forms the electrical
signals from the transferred energy. In an embodiment, the present
invention converts an I and Q optical signal to electrical signals. In an
embodiment, the present invention converts an optical signal to an RF
electrical signal using relatively few components, while preserving
information content.