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Systems and methods for detecting fault conditions and detecting and preventing potentially dangerous conditions in an optical system

  • US 6,547,453 B1
  • Filed: 08/30/2000
  • Issued: 04/15/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling an amplified optical system, comprisingan optical pump source operatively connected to a fiber optic system having an optical fiber, said optical pump source operable at a pumping wavelength selected to provide gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, wherein the pumping wavelength is different than a signal wavelength;

  • wherein the optical fiber transmits a pumping light signal from said optical pump source and a reflected pumping light signal when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;

    a back reflection detector operatively connected to the optical fiber, said back reflection detector configured to detect an amount of the reflected pumping light signal; and

    a controller operatively connected to said optical pump source and to said back reflection detector;

    said controller taking at least one precautionary measure when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said back reflection detector exceeds a threshold value.

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