Raman amplifier pumped with residual power in an optical communication system
AssigneeFacebook, Inc.
InventorsNitin Kumar Goel, Satyajeet Singh Ahuja
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of an optical communications network are described that include two or more optical fibers arranged to allow communication in the same or in opposite directions. The optical network includes a first optical amplifier coupled to the first optical fiber, a second optical amplifier coupled to the second optical fiber, and an optical coupler that allows excess optical power from the first optical fiber to be provided for amplification of signals traversing the second optical fiber. The disclosed systems and devices thus enable excess power from one channel to be utilized to enable amplification of signals traveling on a different channel.
Claims13
An optical communication network, comprising:
- a first node coupled to a first optical channel and to a second optical channel, the first optical channel formed as part of a first optical fiber and the second optical channel formed as part of a second optical fiber, the first node configured to transmit optical signals to a second node through the first optical channel and to receive optical signals from the second node through the second optical channel;
- the second node coupled to the first optical channel and to the second optical channel and configured to receive optical signals from the first node through the first optical channel and to transmit optical signals to the first node through the second optical channel;
- a first and a second optical amplifiers coupled to the first optical fiber to amplify optical signals traversing in a first direction;
- and
- a third and a fourth optical amplifiers coupled to the second optical fiber to amplify optical signals traversing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the fourth optical amplifier is further coupled to the first optical fiber to receive at the first node, excess optical power in the first node;
- wherein the second optical amplifier is coupled to the second optical fiber to receive at the second node, excess optical power in the second node.
An optical power arrangement for use in a fiber optical communication network, comprising:
- a first and a second optical fiber configured to communicate data in opposite directions;
- a first optical amplifier that is coupled to the first optical fiber;
- a second optical amplifier that is coupled to the second optical fiber;
- and
- an optical coupler to couple at a first node, excess power in the first node to the second optical amplifier that is a Raman-type amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.