Apparatus and method for simultaneous channel and optical signal-to-noise ratio monitoring
US7274870B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B2210/078
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for simultaneous channel and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) monitoring is adapted to function in multi-channel wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems. A polarization controller is sequentially adjusted to perform the sequential polarization control with an optical signal. A polarization-selective electro-optic modulator acts as a polarizer and provides a signal dithering to improve the detection sensitivity. A beam splitter splits the dithered optical signal into two clusters. A photodetector receives the first cluster and measures the OSNR. An optical element receives the second cluster and monitors the channel wavelength of multiple channels. The apparatus can be packaged into a compact module and integrated on a chip. The channel monitoring covers a wide wavelength range and is tunable. The OSNR monitoring can be accurate over a wide dynamic range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.