Method and device to compensate for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission link

US6282333A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Dultz · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Leonid A. Beresnev · Dayton, US
• Heidrun Schmitzer · Grünhain, DE
• Bernhard Hils · Königstein, DE
• Joachim Vobian · Heilbad Heiligenstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 1, 1999
• Grant date: Aug 28, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 1, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B10/2569
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and a device are described to compensate for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission link(9, 9') having polarization-dependent transmission characteristics, in particular in optical fibers and cables with not only statistical, but preferred birefringence. A compensation element (1, 1', 1"), whose length is adjusted non-destructively using an interference device (2, 2', 2"), in particular a pressure mechanism, is connected upstream or downstream from the transmission link (9, 9'). The polarization states P.sub.L and P.sub.S of the compensation element are mixed by the interference and thus the length of the compensation fiber is defined at which a propagation time difference between the partial waves of polarization states P.sub.L and P.sub.S is increased or decreased so that it compensates for the propagation time difference .tau. within the transmission link (9, 9').