Variable gain optical amplifiers
US7317570B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A variable gain optical amplifier comprises an EDFA for amplifying optical signals at different wavelengths and a pump driver 14 for optically pumping the EDFA to provide optical gain. An input detector 2 is provided for monitoring the power Pin of input signals to the EDFA, and an output detector 3 is provided for monitoring the power Pout of output signals from the EDFA. A gain control arrangement is provided for supplying a drive signal to the pump driver 14 to control the optical gain including a feed forward arrangement 20, 21, 22, 23 for supplying a feed forward signal dependent on the monitored input power Pin, and a feed back arrangement 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30 for supplying a feed back signal dependent on the monitored output power Pout. In order to ensure rapid gain control the feed back arrangement comprises an adaptive proportional-integral (PI or PID) controller 30 for controlling the optical gain at a required gain set point in accordance with proportional and integral control coefficients Kp and Ki corresponding to a required gain profile, at least one of which is dynamically variable in dependence on the monitored output power Pout, the output signal from the controller 3…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.