Optical device having dynamic channel equalization
First Claim
1. An optical device comprising:
- a plurality of separate optical paths, each of which receiving a separate group of optical signals;
a plurality of variable optical attenuators, each of which having an input coupled to an associated one of said separate optical paths;
an optical combiner having separate inputs, each of which coupled to an output of an associated one of said variable optical attenuators, said optical combiner having an output providing said separate groups of optical signals in an aggregated form on an aggregate optical signal path; and
an optical performance monitor circuit coupled to said aggregate optical signal path, said optical performance monitor circuit being configured to detect a plurality of optical signal powers, each of which being associated with a respective one of said separate groups and to supply a feedback signal to corresponding ones of said variable optical attenuators for adjusting a respective attenuation associated with each of said attenuators in response to said detected plurality of optical signal powers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical device including dynamic channel equalization is provided. In an exemplary multiplexer or line amplifier configuration the device includes a plurality of separate optical paths, each of which receiving a separate group of optical signals. Each group of optical signals is provided to an associated variable optical attenuator. Separate inputs of an optical combiner are each coupled to an output of an associated one of the variable optical attenuators. The optical combiner has an output providing the separate groups of optical signals in an aggregated form on an aggregate optical signal path. An optical performance monitor is coupled to the aggregate optical signal path, and is configured to detect an optical signal power of each of the separate groups. The monitor supplies a feedback signal to corresponding ones of the variable optical attenuators for adjusting a respective attenuation associated with each of the attenuators in dependence of the detected optical signal powers. The device may also be provided in a demultiplexer configuration.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An optical device comprising:
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a plurality of separate optical paths, each of which receiving a separate group of optical signals;
a plurality of variable optical attenuators, each of which having an input coupled to an associated one of said separate optical paths;
an optical combiner having separate inputs, each of which coupled to an output of an associated one of said variable optical attenuators, said optical combiner having an output providing said separate groups of optical signals in an aggregated form on an aggregate optical signal path; and
an optical performance monitor circuit coupled to said aggregate optical signal path, said optical performance monitor circuit being configured to detect a plurality of optical signal powers, each of which being associated with a respective one of said separate groups and to supply a feedback signal to corresponding ones of said variable optical attenuators for adjusting a respective attenuation associated with each of said attenuators in response to said detected plurality of optical signal powers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical device comprising:
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an optical communication path receiving an optical signal including a plurality of separate wavelengths;
an optical performance monitor circuit coupled to said optical communication path, said optical performance monitor circuit being configured to detect a plurality of optical signal powers, each of which being associated with a respective one of a plurality of separate groups of said separate wavelengths and to supply separate feedback signals in response to said detected plurality of optical signal powers;
an optical demultiplexer configured to receive an output of said optical performance monitor circuit, said demultiplexer supplying each of said plurality of groups of said separate wavelengths on a separate associated output; and
a plurality of variable optical attenuators, each of which receiving a separate one of said separate associated outputs, each of said plurality of optical attenuators receiving an associated one of said separate feedback signals for adjusting an associated attenuation level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for transmitting optical signals, comprising the steps of;
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providing each of a plurality groups of said optical signals on a respective one of a plurality of separate optical signal paths;
combining each of said groups of optical signals on an aggregate optical signal path;
detecting a plurality of power levels, each of said plurality of power levels being associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of groups of optical signals; and
attenuating each group of said plurality of optical signals on said separate optical signal paths in response to a corresponding one of said detected plurality of power levels.
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13. A method for transmitting optical signals, comprising the steps of:
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providing each of a plurality of groups of said optical signals in an aggregated form on an optical signal path, detecting a plurality of power levels, each of said plurality of power levels being associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of groups of optical signals;
separating said groups of optical signals onto associated separate optical signal paths; and
attenuating each group of said plurality of optical signals on said separate optical signal paths in response to a corresponding one of said detected plurality of power levels.
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Specification