Management and utilization of ASE in optical amplifier
US6233092A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An amplification stage of a multistage, rare earth doped optical amplifier, having a gain spectrum including a shorter wavelength band and a longer wavelength band, provided with excitation light produces an amount of ASE traveling in a reverse direction to the initial excitation light. The reverse traveling ASE light is directed to another amplification stage of the amplifier and substantially provides excitation light for pumping the longer wavelength band. The proposed amplifier structure and associated method of optical signal amplification efficiently utilizes unavoidable ASE light for optical signal amplification. The invention provides signal amplification in a wavelength band not heretofore efficiently utilized in conventional rare earth doped optical amplifiers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.