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US 2009/0213453 A1Published application
Measurements of polarization-dependent loss (PDL) and degree of polarization (DOP) using optical polarization controllers
AssigneeGeneral Photonics Corporation
InventorX. Steve Yao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and techniques that use a polarization controller and a feedback control to the polarization controller to systematically control the polarization of light output from the polarization controller in measuring the polarization dependent loss (PDL) of an optical device or material that receives the light from the polarization controller or the degree of polarization (DOP) of a light beam directed into the polarization controller.
Claims11
A device, comprising:
- a polarization unit to control a polarization of light received by the polarization unit in response to a control signal, wherein the light from the polarization unit passes through an optical medium;
- an optical detector to receive light transmitted through the optical medium and to produce a detector output;
- and
- a feedback unit that receives the detector output and, in response to the received detector output, produces the control signal to control the polarization unit to adjust the polarization of light to the optical medium to measure a maximum transmission through the optical medium and a minimum transmission through the optical medium at the optical detector.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- separating a plurality of WDM channels into separated signals;
- directing the separated WDM channels, one at a time, into a device that measures a degree of polarization of light;
- and
- measuring the degree of polarization of light of each separated WDM channel by using the device.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- directing light from a light source through an optical bandpass filter to produce a reference light beam;
- measuring a first degree of polarization of the reference light beam output from the optical bandpass filter;
- using the first degree of polarization to compute a first optical signal to noise ratio;
- directing the light from the light source through an optical amplifier first and then through the optical bandpass filter;
- measuring a second degree of polarization of light output from the optical bandpass filter;
- using the second degree of polarization to compute a second optical signal to noise ratio;
- and
- using the first degree of polarization and the second degree of polarization to determine a noise figure of the optical amplifier.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.