Optical amplifier system with transient control using spectrally filtered input
US6341034B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/296
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Optical amplifiers are provided for use in fiber-optic communications networks. An optical amplifier may be controlled to prevent gain transients. The optical amplifier may use a spectrally-filtered input power tap to monitor input power. Amplifier gain may be controlled based on the monitored spectrally-filtered input power. Gain may be provided using one or more rare-earth-doped fiber coils such as erbium-doped fiber coils. The coils may be pumped by laser diodes or other suitable pumps. The optical output power of the pumps may be controlled by a control unit. The control unit may calculate the appropriate pump power for the pumps to supply to the fiber coils based on the measured spectrally-filtered input power of the amplifier. The output power of the amplifier may also be measured. A combination of feed-forward and feedback techniques may be used to calculate the pump power to be supplied by the pumps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.