Optical amplifiers with a simple gain/output control device

An optical fiber amplifier comprising:

• (A) an optical system including:
• (i) an optical gain medium;
• (ii) at least one pump source coupled to the optical gain medium;
• (iii) an input port for an in-coming signal;
• (iv) an output port for an out-going signal;
• (v) an input optical signal tap coupled to a first optical detector;
• (vi) an output optical signal tap coupled to a second optical detector;
• and
• (B) an electronic controller adapted to utilize inputs received from said detectors to control optical power provided by said pump source, said controller including a programmed unit and a user interface that allows a user to chose which of the following available functions are to be controlled:
• desired amplifier gain value, amplifier output power value, DC off-set calibration, or/and ASE noise compensation,
• wherein said electronic controller includes a signal processing unit provided with a software control algorithm that computes a value corresponding to the required optical power to be provided by said pump source, so as to provide either a specific gain or a specific output power by said amplifier;
• and further including an additional signal processing unit.

An optical fiber amplifier comprising:

• (A) an optical system including:
• (i) an optical gain medium;
• (ii) at least one pump source coupled to the optical gain medium and providing optical power to said medium;
• (iii) an input port accepting an input signal and coupling said input signal into said optical gain medium;
• (iv) an output port providing an out-going signal;
• (v) an input optical signal tap channeling a portion of said input signal toward a first optical detector;
• and
• (vi) an output optical signal tap channeling a portion of said out-going signal toward a second optical detector;
• and
• (B) an electronic controller including:
• (i) input and output signal converters, which convert signals from said first and second optical detectors to electrical signals,
• (ii) an electronic to digital signal converter, converting said electrical signals;
• (iii) at least one digital signal processing unit processing said digital signals into a new set of digital signals;
• (iv) a digital signal to an electrical signal converter, converting said new digital signals to new electrical signals;
• wherein said pump power is driven by said new electrical signals;
• said controller further including a user interface that allows a user to (i) chose to specify either a desired amplifier gain value or amplifier output power value;
• and (ii) perform at least one of the following functions:
• to change DC offset calibration;
• and optical noise compensation.

An optical fiber amplifier comprising:

• (A) an optical system including:
• (i) an optical gain medium;
• (ii) at least one pump source coupled to the optical gain medium;
• (iii) an input port for an in-coming signal;
• (iv) an output port for an out-going signal;
• (v) an input optical signal tap coupled to a first optical detector;
• (vi) an output optical signal tap coupled to a second optical detector;
• and
• (B) an electronic controller adapted to utilize inputs received from said detectors to control optical power provided by said pump source, said controller including a programmed unit and a user interface that allows a user to chose to control (i) at least one of the following available functions:
• desired amplifier gain value, amplifier output power value, and (ii) at least one of the following functions:
• DC off-set calibration, and ASE noise compensation.