Cross phase modulation suppressing device in wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system and optical communication system

• US 6,920,261 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Toshiharu, Inada, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Juliana
• Application Number:
  US10/012,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 385/11, 385/15, 385/18, 385/24, 385/31, 398/42, 398/45, 398/53, 398/68, 398/140, 398/147, 398/152, 398158-161
• US Class Current: 385/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2557 Cross-phase modulation [XPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0307 Multiplexers; Demultiplexers

Abstract

According to the cross phase modulation suppressing device of the present invention, the wavelength multiplexing optical signal from an optical fiber having polarization orthogonality between the adjacent channels is split for every channel and the split optical signals are led to delaying optical waveguides of different lengths by the AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating) connected to a second port of an optical circulator, and the split optical signals with each delay added are reflected by the Farraday mirrors in polarization states orthogonal to each other and again led to the delaying optical waveguides. The reflected lights are combined by the AWG and supplied to a third port of the optical circulator as the wavelength multiplexing optical signal with orthogonality of polarization states kept between the adjacent channels.

Claims

1. A cross phase modulation suppressing device in a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system, comprising:

an optical circulator which supplies a wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in a first port to a second port and supplies said wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in said second port to a third port;

a multi/demultiplexer which divides said wavelength multiplexing optical signal outputted from said second port of said optical circulator into a plurality of split optical signals to output, and combines said plurality of split optical signals to create said wavelength multiplexing optical signal;

a delay element which adds different delays for each adjacent channel of said plurality of said split optical signals wavelength-divided; and

a reflector which reflects said split optical signals with each delay added in a state of orthogonalizing polarization states thereof and again enters said split optical signals to said delay element,

wherein said split optical signals passing through said delay element, reflected by said reflector, are inputted as a multiplex input of said multi/demultiplexer,

wherein said reflector comprises a Faraday mirror,

wherein polarization states of said plurality of split optical signals are orthogonal to each other between adjacent channels, and

wherein said multi/demultiplexer includes an interleaver for splitting said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between an odd number channel group and an even number channel group, and first and second multi/demultiplexers for splitting each of said odd number channel group and said even number channel group for each channel.

2. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multi/demultiplexer splits said wavelength multiplexing optical signal into said plurality of split optical signals in a first to a fourth channel group for every four channels.

3. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said multi/demultiplexer comprises:

a first interleaver which splits said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between said odd number channel group and said even number channel group; and

a second interleaver and a third interleaver which respectively split said split optical signals supplied in two channel groups from said first interleaver further between said odd number channel group and said even number channel group, thereby supplying the signals in every four channels from a first channel group to a fourth channel group.

4. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an optical attenuator which adjusts each signal level of said split optical signals.

5. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a dispersion compensator which performs dispersion compensation of said split optical signals.

6. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a transparent wavelength characteristic in said multi/demultiplexer comprises a top including a plane flat top shape.

7. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multi/demultiplexer comprises an AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating) operable to split and combine said wavelength multiplexing optical signal for each channel at a low loss.

8. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multi/demultiplexer comprises an AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating) operable to split and combine said wavelength multiplexing optical signal for each channel at a low loss and a transparent wavelength characteristic thereof comprises a top including a plane flat top shape.

9. An optical communication system for performing a wavelength multiplexing optical transmission between a sending end and a receiving end through an optical communication line with at least one optical relay inserted therein,

wherein said optical relay comprises an optical amplifier and a cross phase modulation suppressing device, and

wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device comprises:

an optical circulator for supplying a wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in a first port to a second port and supplying said wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in said second port to a third port,

a multi/demultiplexer which divides said wavelength multiplexing optical signal outputted from said second port of said optical circulator into a plurality of split optical signals to output and combine said plurality of split optical signals to create said wavelength multiplexing optical signal;

a delay element which adds different delays for each adjacent channel of said plurality of said split optical signals wavelength-divided; and

a reflector which reflects said split optical signals with each delay added in a state of orthogonalizing polarization states thereof and again enters said split optical signals to said delay element,

wherein said split optical signals passing through said delay element, reflected by said reflector, are inputted as a multiplex input of said multi/demultiplexer,

wherein polarization states of said plurality of split optical signals are orthogonal to each other between adjacent channels, and

wherein said multi/demultiplexer of said cross phase modulation suppressing device includes an interleaver for splitting said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between an odd number channel group and an even number channel group, and first and second multi/demultiplexers for splitting each of said odd number channel group and said even number channel group for each channel.

10. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multi/demultiplexer of said cross phase modulation suppressing device splits said wavelength multiplexing optical signal into said plurality of split optical signals in a first to a fourth channel group for every four channels.

11. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said multi/demultiplexer of said cross phase modulation suppressing device comprises:

a first interleaver which splits said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between said odd number channel group and said even number channel group; and

a second interleaver and a third interleaver which respectively split said split optical signals supplied in two channel groups from said first interleaver further between said odd number channel group and said even number channel group, thereby supplying the signals in every four channels from a first channel group to a fourth channel group.

12. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device further comprises:

an optical attenuator which adjusts each signal level of said split optical signals.

13. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device further comprises:

a dispersion compensator which performs dispersion compensation of each split optical signal.

14. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein a transparent wavelength characteristic in said multi/demultiplexer comprises a top including a plane flat top shape.

15. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multi/demultiplexer comprises an AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating) operable to split and combine said wavelength multiplexing optical signal in each channel at a low loss.

16. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multi/demultiplexer comprises an AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating) operable to split and combine said wavelength multiplexing optical signal for each channel at a low loss and a transparent wavelength characteristic thereof comprises a top including a plane flat top shape.

17. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said reflector of said cross phase modulation suppressing device comprises a Faraday mirror.

18. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device is inserted in front of said optical amplifier.

19. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device is inserted behind said optical amplifier.

20. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device is inserted between said optical amplifiers.

21. A cross phase modulation suppressing device comprising:

an optical circulator which supplies a wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in a first port to a second port and supplies said wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in said second port to a third port;

a multi/demultiplexer that divides said wavelength multiplexing optical signal outputted from said second port of said optical circulator into a plurality of split optical signals, combines said plurality of split optical signals, and outputs said wavelength multiplexing optical signal;

a delay element that adds delays for each adjacent channel of said plurality of said split optical signals, wherein said plurality of said split optical signals comprise different delays; and

a reflector that reflects one of said plurality of split optical signals,

wherein said one of said plurality of split optical signals returns through said delay element and inputs a multiplex input of said multi/demultiplexer,

wherein said plurality of split optical signals comprises orthogonal polarization states with respect to each other between adjacent channels,

wherein said reflector comprises a Faraday mirror, and

wherein said multi/demultiplexer includes an interleaver for splitting said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between an odd number channel group and an even number channel group, and first and second multi/demultiplexers for splitting each of said odd number channel group and said even number channel group for each channel.

22. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 21, wherein said delay element comprises a plurality of optical waveguides.

23. The cross phase modulation suppressing device as set forth in claim 21, wherein said delay element comprises a plurality of delaying optical waveguides including different lengths.

24. An optical communication system for performing a wavelength multiplexing optical transmission, comprising:

a sending end; and

a receiving end connected to said sending end through an optical communication line,

wherein said optical communication line comprises at least one optical relay,

wherein said at least one optical relay comprises a cross phase modulation suppressing device,

wherein said cross phase modulation suppressing device comprises;

an optical circulator for supplying a wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in a first port to a second port and supplying said wavelength multiplexing optical signal entered in said second port to a third port;

a multi/demultiplexer that divides said wavelength multiplexing optical signal outputted from said second port of said optical circulator into a plurality of split optical signals, combines said plurality of split optical signals, and outputs said wavelength multiplexing optical signal;

a delay element that adds delays for each adjacent channel of said plurality of said split optical signals, wherein said plurality of said split optical signals comprise different delays; and

a reflector that reflects one of said split optical signals, wherein said one of said split optical signals returns through said delayer and inputs a multiplex input of said multi/demultiplexer,

wherein said plurality of split optical signals comprise orthogonal polarization states with respect to each other between adjacent channels, and

wherein said multi/demultiplexer of said cross phase modulation suppressing device includes an interleaver for splitting said wavelength multiplexing optical signal between an odd number channel group, and an even number channel group, and first and second multi/demultiplexers for splitting each of said odd number channel group and said even number channel group for each channel.

25. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said at least one optical relay further comprises an optical amplifier.

26. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said delay element comprises a plurality of optical waveguides.

27. The optical communication system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said delay element comprises a plurality of delaying optical waveguides including different lengths.