System and method for reducing effects of optical impairments in optically amplified lightwave communication systems
US6501870B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/2537
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The effects of optical impairments on optical signal transmission are substantially reduced in a lightwave transmission system by positioning optical amplifiers and network elements in respective upstream-downstream combinations. By placing an optical amplifier at a position upstream from its corresponding network element, sufficient amplification can be provided by the optical amplifier to compensate for losses introduced by its corresponding network element. Advantageously, the corresponding downstream network element provides sufficient attenuation of the forward travelling lightwave signals so that power-dependent nonlinear effects in the optical fiber do not significantly distort the lightwave signals. Moreover, because of the downstream location of the network element in relation to its corresponding network element, the network element substantially suppresses backward travelling optical signal components such as those caused by Rayleigh backscattering, Stimulated Brillioun Scattering (SBS), and the like. As such, the network element prevents unwanted back reflections and back scattered signals from affecting operation of its corresponding optical amplifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.