Method and apparatus for optical amplifying device gain control with gain threshold
US7400443B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/2931
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Optical amplifying method and apparatus are proposed. Constant gain amplifiers operate such that the output power of the amplifier generally tracks the input power. However, optical systems are not perfect and the input to the optical amplifier stage includes not only the desired signal, but also includes accumulated effects of the imperfections. The imperfections include losses of the fiber sections, variations in laser powers, and drifts. Thus, simple amplification not only amplifies the desired signal, but also amplifies accumulated imperfections. Such imperfections occur over time and are generally small in magnitude. By operating the amplifier such that amplification of small variations is suppressed while allowing for tracking of large input variations, amplifying the accumulated imperfections is minimized.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.