In-line forward/backward fiber-optic signal analyzer
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- generating a seed-signal laser beam;
propagating the seed-signal laser beam in a forward-traveling direction in a core of an input optical fiber;
splitting the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam from the core of the input optical fiber into a plurality of portions including a first portion having majority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and a second portion having a minority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam;
directing the first portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into a core of a first output optical gain fiber and directing the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into a core of a second output optical fiber;
amplifying the first portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam in the first output optical gain fiber;
directing at least a first portion of a backward-traveling laser beam from the core of the first output optical gain fiber into a third output optical fiber; and
analyzing the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and analyzing at least the first portion of the backward-traveling laser beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical connector having a plurality of directional taps and connecting between a plurality of optical waveguides (e.g., such as a connector between a waveguide that is part of, or leads from, a seed laser and/or an initial optical-gain-fiber power amplifier, and a waveguide that is part of, or leads to, an output optical-gain-fiber power amplifier and/or a delivery fiber), wherein one of the directional taps extracts a small amount of the forward-traveling optical output signal from the seed laser or initial power amplifier (wherein this forward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the forward-tapped signal), and wherein another of the directional taps extracts at least some of any backward-traveling optical signal that may have been reflected (wherein this backward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the backward-tapped signal).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating a seed-signal laser beam; propagating the seed-signal laser beam in a forward-traveling direction in a core of an input optical fiber; splitting the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam from the core of the input optical fiber into a plurality of portions including a first portion having majority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and a second portion having a minority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam; directing the first portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into a core of a first output optical gain fiber and directing the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into a core of a second output optical fiber; amplifying the first portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam in the first output optical gain fiber; directing at least a first portion of a backward-traveling laser beam from the core of the first output optical gain fiber into a third output optical fiber; and analyzing the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and analyzing at least the first portion of the backward-traveling laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a source of a seed-signal laser beam; a signal-input optical fiber optically coupled to the source to propagate the seed-signal laser beam in a forward-traveling direction in a core of the input optical fiber; a signal-output optical gain fiber; a forward-tap output fiber; a backward-tap output fiber; a beam splitter optically coupled to the input fiber, the signal-output gain fiber, the forward-tap fiber, and the backward tap fiber, and configured to split the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam from the core of input optical fiber into a plurality of portions including a first portion having a majority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam directed into a core of the signal-output optical gain fiber and a second portion having a minority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam directed into the forward-tap output fiber and to direct at least a portion of any backward-propagating light from the signal-output gain fiber into the backward-tap output fiber; and an analyzer functionally coupled to the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and at least the portion of a backward-traveling laser beam and that generates an analysis signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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means for generating a seed-signal laser beam; input optical-fiber core means for propagating the seed-signal laser beam in a forward-traveling direction; means for splitting the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam from the input optical-fiber core means into a plurality of portions including a first portion having majority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam and a second portion having a minority of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam; first output optical-fiber gain means for propagating and amplifying a first forward laser signal output beam, second output optical fiber means for propagating a first forward laser beam tap signal, and third output optical fiber means for propagating a first backward-traveling laser beam tap signal; means for directing the first portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into the first output optical-fiber gain means; means for directing the second portion of the forward-traveling seed-signal laser beam into the second output optical-fiber means; means for directing at least a first portion of a backward-traveling laser beam from the first output optical fiber gain means into the third output optical-fiber means; and means for analyzing the first forward seed-signal laser beam tap signal and means for analyzing at least the first portion of a backward-traveling laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification