Wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system having tunable multi-channel dispersion compensating filters
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsJOSEPH EARL FORD, KEITH WAYNE GOOSSEN, CHRISTI KAY MADSEN, JAMES ALBERT WALKER
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Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a WDM optical communication system includes a new tunable multi-channel dispersion compensating filter having low loss, low polarization dependence and capable of compensating many channels over a large wavelength range. In essence, the filter comprises an optical cavity with a near 100% reflector on one side and a variable partial reflector on the other side. The device acts as a tunable all-pass filter.
Claims10
In an optical fiber communication system comprising a wavelength division multiplexed optical transmitter, a length of optical transmission fiber for transmitting signals from the transmitter, the fiber producing unwanted chromatic dispersion compensator for reducing chromatic dispersion in the signals and an optical receiver for the signals, the improvement wherein:
- the dispersion compensator comprises an all-pass filter comprising a variable reflectivity mirror, a fixed mirror, and an optical cavity in the light path between the mirrors.
An all-pass optical filter comprising:
- a variable reflectivity mirror comprising an electrically movable membrane;
- a fixed mirror;
- an optical cavity between the variable reflectivity mirror and the fixed mirror;
- and a controllable voltage source for moving the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.