Method for reducing non-linearities in a laser communication system
OwnerAaron Bondinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system including a laser and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a method of generating a dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude with this system. The laser drive current is modulated to generate a modulated laser light with optical linewidth dithering. The modulated laser light is coupled into the SOA. The SOA drive current is modulated approximately 180° out of phase with the laser drive current to generate the dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude.
Claims16
A method of generating a dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude in a system including a laser and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), comprising the steps of:
- a) amplitude modulating a laser drive current of the laser to generate a modulated laser light with optical linewidth dithering;
- b) coupling the modulated laser light into the SOA;
- and
- C) modulating an SOA drive current of the SOA approximately 180° out of phase with the laser drive current to generate the dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude.
An optical source to provide substantially constant amplitude, dithered laser light, comprising;
- a laser source;
- a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) optically coupled to the laser source;
- a current modulator electrically coupled to the laser source to provide a first modulated drive current to the laser source;
- and
- a phase shifter electrically coupled to the current modulator and to the SOA, the phase shifter shifting a first modulated drive current phase of the first modulated drive current to create a second modulated drive current, and the phase shifter providing the second modulated drive current to the SOA.
A method of generating a dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude in a system including a laser and a variable optical attenuator (VOA), comprising the steps of:
- a) modulating a laser drive current of the laser to generate a modulated laser light with optical linewidth dithering;
- b) coupling the modulated laser light into the VOA;
- and
- C) modulating a VOA drive current of the VOA approximately in phase with the laser drive current to generate the dithered laser light with substantially constant amplitude.
An optical source to provide substantially constant amplitude, dithered laser light, comprising;
- a laser source;
- a variable optical attenuator (VOA) optically coupled to the laser source;
- and
- a current modulator electrically coupled to the laser source and the VOA to provide a drive current modulation to the laser source and the VOA.
An optical transmitter which uses substantially constant amplitude, dithered laser light, comprising;
- a laser source;
- an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) optically coupled to the laser source;
- a current modulator electrically coupled to the laser source and the EAM to provide a drive current modulation having a first frequency to the laser source and the EAM;
- and
- a signal generator electrically coupled to the EAM to provide a signal modulation for modulating an optical signal of the optical transmitter at a second frequency significantly greater than the first frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.