Temperature control and monitoring of optical detector components in an optical communication system
AssigneeOnetta, Inc.
InventorsJohn S. Pease, Michael J. Gassner, Jun Ye
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical detector components in a fiber-optic communication system are temperature stabilized. The optical detector components may be part of an optical amplifier, a receiver, or other optical device. A temperature-controlled housing may be used to stabilize the temperature of a photodiode and/or a transimpedance amplifier of the optical detector. The housing may additionally be used to stabilize the temperature of the coils of a fiber optic amplifier and possibly other components.
Claims29
An optical amplifier comprising:
- a tap that taps a portion of an optical signal and outputs a tapped optical signal;
- an optical detector that detects the tapped optical signal to generate an analog detection signal;
- a controller that receives the analog detection signal and generates a pump control signal;
- at least one optical gain medium that receives an optical input signal;
- an optical pump that optically pumps the optical gain medium in accordance with the pump control signal to amplify the optical input signal;
- and
- a temperature-controlled housing that houses at least a portion of the optical detector, wherein the temperature-controlled housing maintains the temperature of the portion of the optical detector within a predetermined range.
An optical amplifier comprising:
- a tap that taps a portion of an optical signal and outputs a tapped optical signal;
- an optical detector that detects the tapped optical signal to generate an analog detection signal;
- a controller that generates a pump control signal in response to the analog detection signal;
- at least one optical gain medium that receives an optical input signal;
- an optical pump that optically pumps the optical gain medium in accordance with the pump control signal to amplify the optical input signal;
- and
- a temperature-controlled housing that houses at least a portion of the optical detector, the temperature-controlled housing including a temperature sensor that senses a temperature within the housing, wherein the temperature-controlled housing cools the portion of the optical detector within the housing if the sensed temperature increases above a predetermined temperature set point.
An optical receiver for a fiber optic communication system, comprising:
- a wavelength-division demultiplexer for demultiplexing a received wavelength division multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of optical signals;
- an optical detector for detecting one of the optical signals and generating an electronic detection signal;
- a temperature-controlled housing that houses at least part of the optical detector, the temperature-controlled housing including a temperature sensor that senses a temperature within the housing, wherein the temperature-controlled housing adjusts the temperature within the housing if the sensed temperature varies from a predetermined temperature set point;
- and
- a signal processor for processing the electronic detection signal.
A method for calibrating an optical amplifier module, the optical amplifier module including a tap that taps a portion of an optical signal and outputs a tapped optical signal, an optical detector that detects the tapped optical signal to generate a detection signal, a controller that generates a pump control signal in response to the detection signal, at least one optical gain medium that receives an optical input signal, and an optical pump that optically pumps the optical gain medium in accordance with the pump control signal to amplify the optical input signal, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of the optical amplifier module;
- and
- generating a pump control signal that is temperature-compensated based on the sensed temperature, wherein the generating step comprises:
- adjusting the detection signal based on the sensed temperature;
- and
- selecting the pump control signal using the adjusted detection signal.
A method for calibrating an optical amplifier module, the optical amplifier module including a tap that taps a portion of an optical signal and outputs a tapped optical signal, an optical detector that detects the tapped optical signal to generate a detection signal, a controller that generates a pump control signal in response to the detection signal, at least one optical gain medium that receives an optical input signal, and an optical pump that optically pumps the optical gain medium in accordance with the pump control signal to amplify the optical input signal, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of the optical amplifier module;
- and
- generating a pump control signal that is temperature-compensated based on the sensed temperature, wherein the step of generating comprises:
- adjusting at least a portion of the optical detector based on the sensed temperature so that the detection signal is temperature-compensated;
- selecting the pump control signal using the detection signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.