Patent · US Expired

Optical amplifier

US6496302B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
20References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 3, 1999
Grant dateDec 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 3, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S2301/06
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A compensation scheme for an optical amplifier that reduces differences in gain observed at various wavelengths combines and controls characteristics of an automatic gain control circuit and variable gain equalizers. The peak gain wavelength typically observed in optical amplifiers is reduced by shifting the variable gain equalizer characteristic, which has a wavelength region of maximum gain loss. By combining the characteristics of the peak wavelength gain with the maximum wavelength loss according to the various elements, a smooth gain curve can be realized. A variable gain equalizer control circuit provides the required control, and can control multiple variable gain equalizers positioned in various numbers and locations with regard to an optical amplifier section.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.