Optical amplifier and process for amplifying an optical signal propagating in a fiber optic employing an overlay waveguide and stimulated emission
US6052220A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/395
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A side-polished fiber/overlay waveguide architecture and process for non-invasively implementing an optical amplifier are provided for an optical communications system. A "channel" overlay waveguide is employed to constrain for amplification optical energy evanescently coupled to the overlay waveguide from the side-polished optical fiber. One of two amplification methods can be employed. The first involves inducing stimulated emission with the overlay waveguide and the second uses a second order, non-linear frequency conversion to down-convert a high-power, short-wavelength pump signal into the waveguide to amplify the optical energy coupled thereto. Amplification of optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide can be established within a single beat length of evanescent removal to evanescent return of the optical energy to the side-polished fiber optic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.