Optical power equalizer
US6674569B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/04
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Known optical power equalizers receive an optical main input signal modulating between high and low input power levels. The optical power equalizers emit an equalized optical main output signal modulating between high and low output power levels, where at least one of the two sets of high and low power levels is equalized to one high or one low output power level. Such devices can comprise at least one gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier that operates about its saturation range. The optical power equalizer receives an amplifier input signal, which has one or more modulated portions, and emits a modulated amplifier output signal. According to the invention the dependence of the gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier's gain on the power of the amplifier input signal is adjusted such that the high input power levels of the amplifier input signal are equalized into the one high output power level of the amplifier output signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.