INTEGRATED SIGNAL LOSS DETECTION IN RAMAN AMPLIFIED FIBER SPANS OR OTHER FIBER SPANS

• US 20190148902A1
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Published: 05/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neptune Subsea IP Ltd. (Xtera Topco Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Subsea IP Ltd. (Xtera Topco Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pelouch, Wayne S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,707,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/35 having switching means by changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0014 Monitoring arrangements not otherwise provided for photometry G01J1/00, e.g. G01J1/4257; radiation pyrometry G01J5/00; measuring coherence of light G01J9/00; measuring wavelength of light G01J9/00, e.g. G01J9/0246; measuring optical pulses G01J11/00; calorimetrically measuring power of laser beams G01K17/003
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/094003 the pumped medium being a fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/094053 Fibre coupled pump, e.g. delivering pump light using a fibre or a fibre bundle
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 in an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/077 using a supervisory or additional signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2537 due to scattering processes, e.g. Raman or Brillouin scattering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2916 using Raman or Brillouin amplifiers

Abstract

An apparatus includes multiple ports configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers and to transmit first optical signals and receive second optical signals over the optical fibers. The apparatus also includes a signal source configured to generate a first additional optical signal for inclusion with the first optical signals. The apparatus further includes a signal detector configured to detect a second additional optical signal included with the second optical signals. In addition, the apparatus includes a switch configured to selectively couple the signal source to one of the ports. The switch is configured to couple the signal source to different ones of the ports in different configurations of the switch.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

multiple ports configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers and to transmit first optical signals and receive second optical signals over the optical fibers;

a signal source configured to generate a first additional optical signal for inclusion with the first optical signals;

a signal detector configured to detect a second additional optical signal included with the second optical signals; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the signal source to one of the ports, the switch configured to couple the signal source to different ones of the ports in different configurations of the switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one pump configured to generate Raman pump power; and

at least one multiplexer configured to inject the Raman pump power onto a first of the optical fibers coupled to a first of the ports.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the different configurations of the switch are based on whether the Raman pump power is used for forward or backward Raman amplification.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first filter coupled to a first of the ports, a second of the ports, the signal detector, and the switch; and

a second filter coupled to a third of the ports, a fourth of the ports, and the switch;

wherein each filter is configured to filter the first or second optical signals and to output a specified range of wavelengths, the specified range of wavelengths including a wavelength of the first or second additional optical signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

an optical coupler or circulator configured to couple the signal source and the signal detector to the first filter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the apparatus comprises the optical coupler; and

the switch comprises a 2×

2 switch that, in one configuration, is configured to recycle power from the optical coupler into the signal detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second additional optical signals are outside a signal band of wavelengths used by the first and second optical signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second additional optical signals are modulated.

9. A system comprising:

an optical span including a first module configured to communicate optically with a second module, the first module comprising;

multiple ports configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers, at least one of the ports configured to at least one of;

transmit first optical signals to the second module and receive second optical signals from the second module;

a signal source configured to generate a first additional optical signal for inclusion with the first optical signals;

a signal detector configured to detect a second additional optical signal included with the second optical signals; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the signal source to one of the ports, the switch configured to couple the signal source to different ones of the ports in different configurations of the switch.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first module further comprises:

at least one pump configured to generate Raman pump power; and

at least one multiplexer configured to inject the Raman pump power onto a first of the optical fibers coupled to a first of the ports.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the different configurations of the switch are based on whether the Raman pump power is used for forward or backward Raman amplification.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first module further comprises:

a first filter coupled to a first of the ports, a second of the ports, the signal detector, and the switch; and

a second filter coupled to a third of the ports, a fourth of the ports, and the switch;

wherein each filter is configured to filter the first or second optical signals and to output a specified range of wavelengths, the specified range of wavelengths including a wavelength of the first or second additional optical signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first module further comprises:

an optical coupler or circulator configured to couple the signal source and the signal detector to the first filter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the first module comprises the optical coupler; and

the switch comprises a 2×

2 switch that, in one configuration, is configured to recycle power from the optical coupler into the signal detector.

15. An apparatus comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth ports configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers;

a first signal line communicatively coupling the first and second ports;

a second signal line communicatively coupling the third and fourth ports;

a signal source configured to generate a first loss of signal (LOS) optical signal for transmission through the third port;

a signal detector configured to detect a second LOS optical signal received through the first port; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the signal source to the first port or the third port, the switch configured to couple the signal source to different ones of the ports in different configurations of the switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one pump configured to generate Raman pump power; and

at least one multiplexer configured to inject the Raman pump power through the first port.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a first filter coupled to the first signal line, the signal detector, and the switch; and

a second filter coupled to the second signal line and the switch;

wherein each filter is configured to filter optical signals and to output a specified range of wavelengths, the specified range of wavelengths including a wavelength of the first or second LOS optical signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

an optical coupler or circulator configured to couple the signal source and the signal detector to the first filter.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the apparatus comprises the optical coupler; and

the switch comprises a 2×

2 switch that, in one configuration, is configured to recycle power from the optical coupler into the signal detector.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the 2×

2 switch is further configured, in another configuration, to couple the signal source to the optical coupler.