WDM optical communication systems with wavelength stabilized optical selectors

A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system comprising:

• a plurality of optical transmitters for outputting a plurality of optical signals, each optical signal having a particular optical channel wavelength;
• an optical combiner optically communicating with each of the optical transmitters for combining the optical signals and outputting the optical signals onto an output path to create a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal;
• an optical transmission path optically communicating with the output path of the optical combiner and configured to carry the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal;
• at least one optical device optically communicating with the optical transmission path such that the optical device receives at least a portion of the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal as an input, the optical device including at least one Bragg grating member having a wavelength band of high reflectivity, the optical device having associated with it at least one characteristic wavelength band created by the at least one Bragg grating;
• a Bragg grating wavelength regulator selected from temperature regulators and strain controllers communicating with the at least one Bragg grating of the optical device to control a wavelength parameter of the Bragg grating selected from temperature and strain;
• an optical detector positioned to collect optical signals which are output by the optical device, the optical detector converting said optical signals to electrical signals;
• and
• a feedback control system communicating with the optical detector and with the Bragg grating wavelength regulator for receiving the electrical signals from the optical detector and sending a control signal to the Bragg grating wavelength regulator responsive to the electrical signals received from the optical detector, the control signal modifying the characteristic optical device wavelength band in accordance with the wavelength of an incident optical channel.

A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system comprising:

• a plurality of optical transmitters for outputting a plurality of optical signals, each optical signal having a particular optical channel wavelength, each of the optical transmitters including an optical transmitter wavelength control system;
• an optical combiner optically communicating with each of the optical transmitters for combining the optical signals and outputting the optical signals onto an output path to create a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal;
• an optical transmission line optically communicating with the output path of the optical combiner and configured to carry the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal;
• at least one optical device optically communicating with the optical transmission line such that the optical device receives at least a portion of the wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal as an input, the optical device including at least one Bragg grating member having a wavelength band of high reflectivity, the optical device having associated with it at least one characteristic wavelength band;
• an optical detector positioned to collect optical signals which are output by the optical device, the optical detector converting said optical signals to electrical signals;
• and
• a feedback control system communicating with the optical detector and with the optical transmitter wavelength control system for receiving the electrical signals from the optical detector and sending control signals to the optical transmitter wavelength control system responsive to the electrical signals received from the optical detector to modify the wavelength of the optical transmitter in accordance with the output of the optical device.