Apparatus to control carrier spacing in a multi-carrier optical transmitter
US9124371B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 2, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/572
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit node of an optical communication system, and is then provided to a modulator that, in turn, modulates light, received from an optical source at one of a plurality of periodically and preferably minimally spaced wavelengths. The plurality of periodically spaced wavelengths or carriers are grouped together with minimal carrier spacing, to form a superchannel. The carrier spacing between adjacent carriers is determined by detecting a beat frequency of a combined optical signal that includes the outputs of two adjacent optical sources. The beat frequency corresponds to a frequency difference between the outputs of the adjacent carriers. This frequency difference should correspond to a desired carrier spacing between each of the plurality of carriers. A frequency error between the beat frequency and the desired carrier spacing is then measured by down-converting the beat frequency with respect to a target reference frequency corresponding to the desired carrier frequency spacing. Based on the determined frequency error, the optical sources are controlled to adjust in frequency to minimize or reduce …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.