Optical add/drop multiplexer utilizing variable optical attenuator
US7236704B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 26, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0016
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switchless optical add/drop module (OADM) includes: a first variable optical splitter (VOS) for splitting a composite optical signal including a plurality of channels into a first portion and a second portion; a first multi-channel variable optical attenuator (MCVOA) optically coupled to the first VOS, where the first MCVOA blocks dropped channels of the first portion, transmits express channels of the first portion, and balances power levels of each of the transmitted express channels of the first portion; a second VOS optically coupled to the first MCVOA opposite to the first VOS for combining the transmitted express channels of the first portion and added channels; and a second MCVOA optically coupled to the first VOS, where the second MCVOA blocks express channels of the second portion, transmits dropped channels of the second portion, and balances power levels of each of the transmitted dropped channels of the second portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.