Optical fiber pumping system
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorMartin Hempstead
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The optical fiber pumping system includes a connector that is adapted to selectively communicate with an external pump system. The connector communicates with an onboard pump multiplexer which also receives input from an on-board pump via a connector. The on-board pump may be hot swapped by connecting an external pump system to the connector and coordinating the power up of the external pump system with the power down of the on-board pump to replace a failed on-board pump with a new pump.
Claims13
An optical fiber pumping system, said system comprising:
- a first optical pump;
- a first pump/signal multiplexer in communication with said first optical pump;
- and
- an external connector in communication with said first pump/signal multiplexer.
An external pump system adapted to communicate with an optical fiber pumping system that includes a first optical pump, a pump/signal multiplexer in communication with said first optical pump, and an external connector in communication with said pump/signal multiplexer, said external pump system comprising:
- a second optical pump;
- a connector in communication with said second optical pump, wherein said connector is adapted to connect to said external connector on said optical fiber pumping system.
A method for replacing an optical pump in an optical fiber pumping system that includes a first optical pump, a pump/signal multiplexer in communication with said first optical pump, and an external connector in communication with said first pump/signal multiplexer, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an external pump system that includes a second optical pump;
- connecting said external pump system to said external connector;
- powering said second optical pump;
- removing the power from said first optical pump;
- removing said first optical pump from said optical fiber pumping system;
- providing a third optical pump;
- installing said third optical pump in said optical fiber pumping system;
- powering said third optical pump;
- removing the power from said second optical pump;
- and
- disconnecting said external pump system from said external connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.