Optical channel regulator and method
First Claim
1. A method for regulating an optical channel, comprising;
- receiving an optical signal;
attenuating the optical signal responsive to a feedback control signal to provide an attenuated optical signal;
tapping a portion of the attenuated optical signal to produce an attenuated optical signal as an output;
providing an untapped portion of the attenuated optical signal as an output optical signal;
outputting the attenuated optical signal output;
comparing an optical signal-to-noise ratio of the attenuated optical signal to a reference signal at the receiving end of the transmission; and
generating a feedback control signal responsive to the comparing of the optical signal-to-noise ratio.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical channel regulator (46) is provided. The optical channel regulator (46) includes a tapped optical coupler (60) receiving an optical line carrying an optical signal. The tapped optical coupler (60) provides substantially all of the optical signal as an output. An electrically variable optical attenuator (64) receives the output of the tapped optical coupler (60) and attenuates the optical signal responsive to a feedback control signal. A second tapped optical coupler (66) receives an output of the attenuator (64). The second coupler (66) provides substantially all of the received optical signal as an output and provides a remaining portion of the optical signal as a tapped output. An optical detector (68) then receives the tapped output and provides an output signal representing the optical signal. A comparator (70) receives the output signal of the optical detector (68) and a reference signal. The comparator (70) compares the output signal and the reference signal and provides the feedback control signal to the attenuator (64) responsive to the comparison. As part of a multi-channel communication system, the regulator is used to adjust the levels of each channel for automatically maintaining channel balance and equalization.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for regulating an optical channel, comprising;
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receiving an optical signal; attenuating the optical signal responsive to a feedback control signal to provide an attenuated optical signal; tapping a portion of the attenuated optical signal to produce an attenuated optical signal as an output; providing an untapped portion of the attenuated optical signal as an output optical signal; outputting the attenuated optical signal output; comparing an optical signal-to-noise ratio of the attenuated optical signal to a reference signal at the receiving end of the transmission; and generating a feedback control signal responsive to the comparing of the optical signal-to-noise ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for regulating optical channels comprising:
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a plurality of optical input channels operable to transport an optical signal; a plurality of optical attenuators, operable to; receive said optical signal from each of said plurality of optical input channels; attenuate said optical signal responsive to a feedback control signal; and output an attenuated optical signal; a plurality of transmission channels operable to transport the attenuated optical signal from each of said plurality of optical attenuators; a plurality of optical monitors operable to; receive the attenuated optical signal from each of the plurality of transmission channels; provide substantially all of the attenuated optical signal as an output; and provide a control signal in response to a remaining portion of the attenuated optical signal; a first microprocessor, operable to; receive the control signal from each of the plurality of optical monitors; optimize all of the attenuated optical signals in response to the control signal from each of the plurality of optical monitors; and generate a plurality of feedback control signals in response to the optimizing of the attenuated signals to each of the plurality of optical attenuators. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification