Method and apparatus for providing chromatic dispersion compensation in a wavelength division multiplexed optical transmission system
US6567577B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B2210/258
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A WDM optical communication system is provided that includes a transmitter and a receiver. An optical fiber transmission path couples the transmitter to the receiver. The transmission path includes at least one repeater having an optical amplifier located therein. A dispersion compensator is disposed at an intermediate point along the transmission path. The intermediate point is located outside of the repeater. The compensator includes a wavelength routing device for dividing a signal having a prescribed bandwidth into a plurality of distinct sub-bands. A plurality of output paths is provided for respectively receiving the plurality of distinct sub-bands. The dispersion compensator also includes a dispersion compensating optical element coupled to each of the output paths. Each dispersion compensating optical element substantially compensates for dispersion at a prescribed wavelength within the bandpass of its respective sub-band. A coupler recombining the distinct sub-bands and couples them back onto the optical fiber transmission path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.