System and method for determining transmission wavelengths for lasers in a dense wavelength division multiplexer
US6567433B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/4087
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method is provided to calibrate a transmission laser, such as a widely tunable laser (WTL), within a dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) for transmission through an optic fiber. The WTL is tuned to the ITU grid using an etalon and a gas cell. The absolute transmission wavelengths of the WTL are calibrated by routing a WTL output beam through the etalon and through the gas cell while varying tuning parameters of the WTL to generate an etalon spectrum and a gas absorption spectrum, both as functions of the tuning parameters. The etalon and gas absorption spectra are compared, along with input reference information specifying gas absorption as a function of absolute wavelength, to determine the absolute transmission wavelength for the WTL as a function of the tuning parameters. The WTL is then tuned to align the transmission wavelength of the WTL to an ITU transmission grid line.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.