Control architecture and method for optical amplifiers

Abstract

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling an optical amplifier is disclosed. The illustrative method includes receiving a portion of an input signal to the optical amplifier; receiving a portion of an output signal from a first amplification stage; receiving a portion of an output signal of the optical amplifier; and adjusting the first amplification stage and a second amplification stage based on the received portions to substantially control the optical amplifier. According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an optical amplifier includes a controller which receives a portion of an output signal from a first amplification stage and a portion of an output signal from the optical amplifier. The controller adjusts the first amplification stage and a second amplification stage based on the received portions of the signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.