Method and apparatus for stabilizing attenuators in optical networks
AssigneeTelcordia Technologies, Inc.
InventorJanet L. Jackel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A methodology and concomitant circuitry wherein an optical attenuator, having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, is set to a pre-selected value less than the minimum attenuation whenever a loss of incoming signal power is detected in an optical path coupled to the attenuator.
Claims24
A method for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring energy in the optical signal at an input to the attenuator, and
- setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
A method for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring energy in the optical signal at an input to the attenuator,
- if the energy is below a pre-determined threshold, setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation, and
- if the energy exceeds the pre-determined threshold, operating the attenuator with reference to prescribed parameters.
A method for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring energy in the optical signal at an output of the attenuator, and
- setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
A method for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring energy in the optical signal at an output of the attenuator,
- if the energy is below a pre-determined threshold, setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation, and
- if the energy exceeds the pre-determined threshold, operating the attenuator with reference to prescribed parameters.
A method for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring energy in the optical signal at the attenuator, and
- setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- means for measuring energy in the optical signal at the input to the attenuator, and
- means, responsive to the means for measuring, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- means for measuring energy in the optical signal at an input to the attenuator, and
- means, responsive to the means for measuring, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value if the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation, and for setting the attenuator with reference to prescribed parameters if the energy exceeds the pre-determined threshold.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- means for measuring energy in the optical signal at the output of the attenuator, and
- means, responsive to the means for measuring, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- means for measuring energy in the optical signal at an output of the attenuator, and
- means, responsive to the means for measuring, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value if the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation, and for setting the attenuator with reference to prescribed parameters if the energy exceeds the pre-determined threshold.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- a detector for detecting energy in the optical signal at an input to the attenuator, and
- a signal processor, responsive to the detector, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- a converter for detecting energy in the optical signal at an output of the attenuator, and
- a signal processor, responsive to the converter, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Circuitry for controlling an optical attenuator disposed in optical path propagating an optical signal, the attenuator having a range of settings including a minimum attenuation, the circuitry comprising
- a detector for detecting energy in the optical signal at the attenuator, and
- a signal processor, responsive to the detector, for setting the attenuator to a pre-selected value whenever the energy is below a pre-determined threshold indicative no optical signal, the pre-selected value being less than the minimum attenuation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.