Method and apparatus for sharing pump energy from a single pump arrangement to optical fibers located in different fiber pairs
US6930825B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/2383
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical repeater is provided that includes at least four optical amplifiers each supplying optical amplification to an optical signal traveling in a different unidirectional optical fiber that collectively form at least two bi-directional pairs of optical fibers. The repeater also includes a first plurality of pump sources for providing pump energy to a first optical fiber located in a first of the optical fiber pairs and a second optical fiber located in a second of the optical fiber pairs. The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber support optical signals traveling in a common direction. A first combiner arrangement combines the pump energy from the first plurality of pump sources and distributes it to the optical amplifiers supplying amplification to optical signals traveling in the first and the second optical fibers. A second plurality of pump sources provides pump energy to a third optical fiber located in the first optical fiber pair and a fourth optical fiber located in the second optical fiber pair. The third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber support optical signals traveling in a common direction that is opposite to that of the first and second optic…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.