Optical amplifier
US8427739B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1608
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical amplifier includes an input port, an output port, an amplification medium, a light source, a monitor, and a controller. The amplification medium with which doped an rare-earth element for optical amplification is allocated on an optical path between the input port and the output port. The light source supplies the amplification medium with an excitation light. The monitor monitors a total power of an optical signal of each wavelength according to a monitor period which is longer than a transient response time of the amplification medium. The controller controls the light source so that a power of the excitation light is constant when a monitor value of the monitor is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the light source so that an optical gain in the amplification medium is constant when the monitor value is larger than the predetermined threshold value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.