# US 10,873,398 B1 · Dispersion monitor apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,398 B1 - Document ID: US10873398B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/525,586 - Filed: 2019-07-30 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-30 - Assignees: Molex Incorporated - Applicants: Molex, LLC - Inventors: Lifu Gong; Gongjian Hu; Yi Liao; Glenn Lee; Guojiang Hu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873398B1 ## CPC - H04B 10/07951: {Monitoring or measuring chromatic dispersion or PMD} - H04B 10/2525: using dispersion-compensating fibres - H04B 10/0775: {Performance monitoring and measurement of transmission parameters} - H04J 14/0305: {in end terminals} - G02B 6/02219: {Characterised by the wavelength dispersion properties in the silica low loss window around 1550 nm, i.e. S, C, L and U bands from 1460-1675 nm} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical signal transmission apparatus and a method are provided. The apparatus may include a set of optical transmitters, each optical transmitter configured for transmission of light signals at one or more wavelengths of light. The apparatus may include an output port configured for transmission of the light signals through a span of optical fiber. The apparatus may use an input port configured to receive other transmissions of light signals through the span of optical fiber. The apparatus may include a set of light detectors, each light detector configured to detect a time delay or phase characteristic associated with the one or more wavelengths of light. The apparatus may include a processor configured to determine a metric based on the detected time delay or phase characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical signal transmission apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of optical transmitters, each optical transmitter configured for transmission of light signals at one or more wavelengths of light; an output port configured for transmission of the light signals through a span of optical fiber; an input port configured to receive other transmissions of light signals through the span of optical fiber; a plurality of light detectors, each light detector configured to detect a time delay or phase characteristic associated with the one or more wavelengths of light; a processor configured to determine a metric based on the detected time delay or phase characteristic; and a plurality of optical receivers configured for decoding light signals; a cross-connect configured to switchably couple the plurality of light transmitters to the plurality of optical receivers; and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a dispersion metric based on light signals transmitted through the cross-connect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metric is indicative of dispersion due to propagation of the one or more wavelengths of light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a phase shifter, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the metric based on the shifted phase value from the phase shifter and a non-shifted value from the plurality of light detectors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a combining element comprising one of a multiplexer, a switch, or a combiner coupled to the plurality of optical transmitters and coupled to the output port; and a decoupling element comprising one of a demultiplexer, a switch, or a decoupler coupled to the plurality of light detectors and coupled to the input port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more wavelengths of light comprise a convention band (C-band). ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a supervisory channel module configured to send parameter information to other nodes and to receive other parameter information from the other nodes, the parameter information comprising hardware characteristics of the apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a dispersion compensating module (DCM), wherein the processor is further configured to control the DCM based on at least one of the time metric, the phase shift metric, or the other parameter information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the dispersion metric is further based on switching the cross-connect between at least two positions coupling different optical receivers to different optical transmitters providing different paths for light signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal delay element coupled to one of the plurality of optical transmitters, wherein the signal delay element is configured to synchronize signal transmission of the optical transmitters. ### Claim 10 An optical signal transmission apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of transmitter means, each transmitter means configured for transmission of light signals at one or more wavelengths of light; an output means configured for transmission of the light signals through a span of optical fiber; an input means configured to receive other transmissions of light signals through the span of optical fiber; a plurality of light detector means, each light detector means configured to detect a time delay or phase characteristic associated with the one or more wavelengths of light; a processing means configured to determine a metric based on the detected time delay or phase characteristic; and a plurality of receiver means configured for decoding light signals; a cross-connect means configured to switchably couple the plurality of transmitter means to the plurality of receiver means; and wherein the processing means is further configured to determine a dispersion metric based on light signals transmitted through the cross-connect means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a combining means coupled to the plurality of transmitter means and coupled to the output means; and a decoupling means coupled to the plurality of light detector means and coupled to the input means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a supervisory channel communication means configured to send parameter information to other nodes and to receive other parameter information from the other nodes, the parameter information comprising hardware characteristics of the apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a dispersion compensating means, wherein the processing means is further configured to control the dispersion compensating means based on at least one of the time metric, the phase characteristic, or the other parameter information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the metric comprises is indicative of dispersion due to propagation of the one or more wavelengths of light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein determining the dispersion metric is further based on switching the cross-connect between at least two positions coupling different receivers to different transmitters providing different paths for light signals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a signal delay means coupled to one of the plurality of transmitter means, wherein the signal delay means is configured to synchronize signal transmission of the plurality of transmitter means. ### Claim 17 A method of an optical signal transmission apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of light signals at a plurality of wavelengths of light; detecting, at a plurality of light detectors, a time delay or phase characteristic of each of the plurality of light signals; determining, at a processor, a metric based on detecting the time delay or phase characteristic; and determining parameter values associated with hardware characteristics of the apparatus; transmitting the parameter values to other nodes in communication with the apparatus; receiving other parameter values associated with the other nodes; and controlling a dispersion compensating module based on the received other parameter values. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the metric is associated with a phase shift of the plurality of light signals propagating through an optical fiber at the plurality of wavelengths of light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling a dispersion compensating module based on the detected phase characteristic.