Optical amplifier systems with transient control
US6498677B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 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. 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 in a given amplifier may be controlled by a control unit. Taps may be used to monitor the power of optical signals being amplified by the amplifier. The tapped optical signals may be spectrally-filtered. The control unit may calculate the appropriate pump power for the pumps to supply to the fiber coils based on the measured spectrally-filtered optical signals. The gain of the amplifier may be maintained at a desired level using feedback control techniques. The gain spectrum of the amplifier need not be flat. 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.