Automatic dark current compensation
US6700654B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/07955
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A monitoring system useful for monitoring the state of a fiber communication channel in which a portion of the fiber signal is tapped and detected by a photodiode. The dark current of the photodiode and other DC offsets of the system may be compensated by passing a known signal through the photodiode and extracting the component due to the known signal. The known signal may be a locally generated optical signal having a predetermined harmonic signature. Optionally, the fiber signal may be selectively attenuated before being combined with the known signal so only the known signal is detected. The known signal may also be a dark signal induced by selectively attenuating the fiber signal. The system may include a temperature sensor which allows the compensation to be performed against stored temperature dependent compensation values while the fiber signal is not attenuated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.