Methods and systems for controlling optical power attenuation
First Claim
1. A method for controlling optical power in an optical communications network, the method comprising:
- periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver;
periodically measuring a first attenuation control signal voltage;
when the optical power measurement is outside a target power range, calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level;
calculating a second attenuation control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the second attenuation control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the second attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator;
applying the second attenuation control signal voltage based on the second attenuation control signal to the variable optical power attenuator; and
adjusting attenuation of the optical signal based on the second attenuation control signal voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling optical power attenuation are provided. A method comprises periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver and periodically measuring a first attenuation control signal voltage. When the optical power measurement is outside a target power range, the method continues with calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level; calculating a second attenuation control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the second attenuation control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the second attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator; applying a second attenuation control signal voltage based on the second attenuation control signal to the variable optical power attenuator; and adjusting attenuation of the optical signal based on the second attenuation control signal voltage.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for controlling optical power in an optical communications network, the method comprising:
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periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver;
periodically measuring a first attenuation control signal voltage;
when the optical power measurement is outside a target power range, calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level;
calculating a second attenuation control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the second attenuation control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the second attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator;
applying the second attenuation control signal voltage based on the second attenuation control signal to the variable optical power attenuator; and
adjusting attenuation of the optical signal based on the second attenuation control signal voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable program instructions for a method for controlling optical power in an optical communications network, the method comprising:
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periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver;
periodically measuring a first attenuation control signal voltage;
when the optical power measurement is outside a target power range, calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level;
calculating a second attenuation control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the second attenuation control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the second attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator;
applying a second attenuation control signal voltage based on the second attenuation control signal to the variable optical power attenuator; and
adjusting attenuation of the optical signal based on the second attenuation control signal voltage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A feedback system for controlling optical power levels, the system comprising:
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an optical receiver that receives a modulated optical light signal, demodulates the modulated optical light signal into one or more communications signals, and outputs the one or more communications signals to a communications network;
wherein the optical receiver further measures an optical power level of the received optical light signal and outputs a power level signal representing the optical power level;
at least one optical power attenuator that dynamically adjusts the attenuation of the modulated optical light signal based on a control signal; and
a controller coupled to the optical receiver, wherein the controller receives the power level signal from the optical receiver, wherein when the optical power level is outside a target power range, the controller calculates a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power level at a target power level and outputs the control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the control signal within a usable range of the optical power attenuator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling optical power in an optical communications network, the method comprising:
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modulating optical signals with one or more radio frequency communication signals received from a first communications network segment;
launching the modulated optical signal on one or more optical media;
receiving the modulated optical signal at an optical receiver;
periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver;
generating an attenuation control signal based on the measured optical power, wherein the attenuation control signal provides an over-damped transient response that maintains the attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator; and
adjusting attenuation of the modulated optical signal based on the attenuation control signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for controlling optical power levels in a communications network, the system comprising:
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means for demodulating one or more radio frequency communications signals from an modulated optical signal;
means for variably attenuating the modulated optical signal based on a attenuation control signal voltage;
means for periodically measuring an optical power of the modulated optical signal received by the means for demodulating;
means for periodically measuring the attenuation control signal voltage;
means for calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level based on an attenuation verses voltage characteristic curve for the means for variably attenuating;
means for calculating an adjustment to the attenuation control signal voltage based on the target voltage, wherein the adjustment to the attenuation control signal voltage is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the attenuation control signal voltage within a usable range of the means for variably attenuating;
means for applying an adjusted attenuation control signal voltage the means for variably attenuating. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for determining a usable voltage range for a voltage controlled variable optical power attenuator, the method comprising:
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injecting an optical calibration signal into a voltage controlled variable optical power attenuator;
varying a control feedback signal applied to the voltage controlled variable optical power attenuator;
measuring optical power received by an optical receiver;
identifying a maximum signal attenuation point;
identifying a minimum signal attenuation point;
defining a minimum voltage point based on the maximum signal attenuation point;
defining a maximum voltage point based on the minimum signal attenuation point minus a safety buffer voltage. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification