Metropolitan area network using low insertion loss optical add-drop multiplexers
First Claim
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1. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), comprising:
- an optical fiber;
a central node coupled to the optical fiber;
a first low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive an optical signal from the central node, drop a first wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the first low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 decibels (dB);
a second low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive the optical signal from the first O-ADM, drop a second wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the second low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less, than approximately 1.00 dB; and
a third low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive the optical signal from the second O-ADM, drop a third wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the third low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 dB.
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Abstract
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is disclosed that is comprised of a central node, an optical fiber, a first low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM), a second low insertion loss O-ADM, and a third low insertion loss O-ADM. The first, second, and third O-ADMs are coupled to the optical fiber and configured to drop wavelengths from an optical signal. The first, second, and third O-ADMs each have an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 dB. The low insertion loss O-ADMs create an efficient MAN that can grow much larger than current MANs in the absence of optical line amplifiers.
8 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), comprising:
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an optical fiber;
a central node coupled to the optical fiber;
a first low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive an optical signal from the central node, drop a first wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the first low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 decibels (dB);
a second low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive the optical signal from the first O-ADM, drop a second wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the second low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less, than approximately 1.00 dB; and
a third low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM) coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive the optical signal from the second O-ADM, drop a third wavelength from the optical signal, and transfer the optical signal wherein the third low insertion loss O-ADM has an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 dB. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a first fiber; and
a second fiber coupled to the first fiber wherein a portion of the first fiber is fused to a portion of the second fiber to form a fused region wherein the fused region contains a fiber grating.
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8. The Metropolitan Area Network in claim 7 wherein the fiber grating comprises a refractive index grating.
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9. The Metropolitan Area Network in claim 7 wherein the fiber grating comprises a Bragg grating.
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10. A method of operating a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from a central node to a first low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM);
dropping a first wavelength from the optical signal in the first O-ADM wherein dropping the first wavelength results in an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 decibels (dB);
transmitting the optical signal from the first O-ADM to a second low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM);
dropping a second wavelength from the optical signal in the second O-ADM wherein dropping the second wavelength results in an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 dB;
transmitting the optical signal from the second O-ADM to a third low insertion loss Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (O-ADM); and
dropping a third wavelength from the optical signal in the third O-ADM wherein dropping the third wavelength results in an insertion loss of less than approximately 1.00 dB. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification