Method of power control in an optical communication system
First Claim
1. A method of power control in an optical communication system, the system comprising a plurality of nodes coupled together by optical waveguiding means for guiding communication traffic bearing radiation between the nodes, the method including the steps of:
- regulating the power of the communication traffic bearing radiation at the first node to provide optical output radiation;
emitting the optical output radiation through the waveguiding means to a second node of the system;
measuring radiation power of the output radiation received at the second node to generate corresponding power indicative data;
communicating the power indicative data to controlling means operable to generate error data for regulating the optical output radiation measured at the second node to a predetermined power level; and
communicating the error data to the power regulating means at the first node for controlling the regulating means so that the radiation power of the output radiation received at the second node is stabilized substantially at the predetermined level at which optical non-linearities are reduced to less than a predetermined threshold in the waveguiding means.
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Abstract
An optical communication system (10) and a method of operating the system (10) to reduce non-linear phenomena in optical fibre waveguides (60, 70) included within the system (10) are discribed. The communication system (10) comprises a plurality of nodes (20, 40) coupled together by optical fibre waveguides (60, 70) for guiding communication traffic bearing radiation between the nodes. The system (10) further comprises: an attenuator and associated optical amplifier (110, 120) for regulating radiation power of the communication bearing radiation at the first node to generate corresponding output radiation; an a coupler (130) for emitting the output radiation into the optical fibre waveguide (60) to propagate to a second node (70). A power monitor (210) is provided for measuring radiation power of the output radiation received at the second node after it has been conveyed through the waveguiding means and for generating corresponding power indicative data. A power controller (160) for receiving the power indicative data is operable to regulate the radiation power measured at the second node to a predetermined level by generating corresponding error data and communication the error data to the attenuator (110) for controlling the attenuator (110) so that the radiation power measured at the second node is stabilized substantially at the predetermined level at which optical non-linearities are reduced to less than a predetermined threshold in the optical fibre waveguide (60).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of power control in an optical communication system, the system comprising a plurality of nodes coupled together by optical waveguiding means for guiding communication traffic bearing radiation between the nodes, the method including the steps of:
- regulating the power of the communication traffic bearing radiation at the first node to provide optical output radiation;
emitting the optical output radiation through the waveguiding means to a second node of the system;
measuring radiation power of the output radiation received at the second node to generate corresponding power indicative data;
communicating the power indicative data to controlling means operable to generate error data for regulating the optical output radiation measured at the second node to a predetermined power level; and
communicating the error data to the power regulating means at the first node for controlling the regulating means so that the radiation power of the output radiation received at the second node is stabilized substantially at the predetermined level at which optical non-linearities are reduced to less than a predetermined threshold in the waveguiding means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- regulating the power of the communication traffic bearing radiation at the first node to provide optical output radiation;
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12. An optical communication system (10:
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300) comprising a plurality of nodes (20,40;
310,330) coupled together by optical waveguiding means (60,70;
350,360) for guiding communication traffic bearing radiation between the nodes, the system further comprising;
power regulating means (120;
420) for regulating radiation power of the communication traffic bearing radiation at the first node to generate corresponding output radiation;
emitting means at the first node for emitting the output radiation into the waveguiding means for propagation to a second node of the system, radiation power measuring means (210;
490) for measuring radiation p wer of the output radiation received at the second node after it has been conveyed through the waveguiding means and for generating corresponding power indicative data; and
controlling means (160;
520) for receiving the power indicative data and using it to regulate the radiation power measured at the second node to a predetermined level by generating corresponding error data and communicating the error data to the regulating means (120;
420) for controlling the regulating means so that the radiation power measured at the second node is stabilized substantially at the predetermined level at which optical non-linearities are reduced to less than a predetermined threshold in the waveguiding means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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300) comprising a plurality of nodes (20,40;
Specification