Multi-stage optical amplifier
US5115338A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1991 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/09408
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention relates to an Erbium-doped fiber amplifier having multiple stages of amplification for providing enhanced performance. More specifically, optical means is located intermediate first and second stages of doped optical amplifying fibers adapted to receive a pump signal at a pump wavelength where the optical means is adapted to modify the net gain characteristics of the multi-stage amplifier. Presently, all known Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers utilize relatively simple single stage amplifiers which support required ancillary optically passive components such as isolators, filters, pump multiplexers, power monitors and the like at either end of the amplifier. This requirement of having the passive optical element at an end of thhe optical amplifier not only lends to relatively stringent design and fabrication tolerances for a high performance optical amplifier, but it restricts the design of the Erbium-doped fiber amplifier to an embodiment which prevents exploitation of the various unique properties of the Erbium-doped fiber amplifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.