Optical amplifier
US8509615B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 2010 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/0777
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical amplifier is provided that is configurable in one of two modes. In both modes, the optical service channel (OSC) may be dropped and converted to an electrical signal. In the first mode, the electrical signal is subject to further processing and the monitoring and/or control information carried by the OSC may be updated with new data. Such updated monitoring and control information is then supplied to an OSC transmitter and modulated onto an OSC output from the optical amplifier. In a second mode of operation (“loop back” mode), however, the monitoring and/or control information bypasses the processing noted above is looped back to the OSC transmitter unchanged. Accordingly, OSC monitoring and control information or data can be rapidly passed through the optical amplifier with little delay. Moreover, the optical amplifier may be configured to operate in either the first or second modes by appropriately configuring a switch. Thus, a standard optical amplifier can be used as a both a line amplifier, in which OSC data is processed and updated, as well as a booster amplifier in which such updating does not occur, for example, but the OS…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.