Adaptive receiver for APD based modules
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorJeff Hamilton-Gahart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for protecting an optical receiver from high power optical signals is disclosed. The apparatus generally includes an optical receiver and a semiconductor optical device configured to receive optical signals and transmit the signals to the optical receiver and operable to decrease amplitude of an input signal received at the device above a predetermined power level range. The apparatus further includes a controller operable to increase attenuation of the semiconductor optical device such that the signal transmitted to the optical receiver from the semiconductor optical device is at an optimum power level for the optical receiver.
Claims19
An apparatus for protecting an optical receiver from high power optical signals, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical receiver;
- a semiconductor optical device configured to receive optical signals and transmit the signals to the optical receiver and operable to decrease amplitude of an input signal received at the device above a predetermined power level range;
- and
- a controller operable to increase attenuation of the semiconductor optical device such that the signal transmitted to the optical receiver from the semiconductor optical device is at an optimum power level for the optical receiver.
A method for protecting an optical receiver from high power optical signals, the method comprising:
- receiving at a semiconductor optical device an input signal, the semiconductor optical device configured to have a small gain, high attenuation, and a large bandwidth and coupled to a receiver;
- sensing a high power input signal received at the semiconductor optical device;
- decreasing the amplitude of the high power input signal;
- and
- increasing attenuation of the semiconductor optical device to provide an optimum power level at the receiver.
A system for protecting an optical receiver from high power optical signals, the system comprising:
- means for receiving at a semiconductor optical device an input signal, the semiconductor optical device configured to have a small gain, high attenuation, and a large bandwidth and coupled to a receiver;
- means for sensing a high power input signal received at the semiconductor optical device;
- means for decreasing the amplitude of the high power input signal;
- and
- means for increasing attenuation of the semiconductor optical device to provide an optimum power level at the receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.