Systems and methods for detecting fault conditions and detecting and preventing potentially dangerous conditions in an optical system

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value, wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes reducing output power of the optical pump source;
• and
• reducing the optical pump source output power of the optical pump source when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detection step exceeds a threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes shutting down the optical pump source;
• and
• shutting down the optical pump source when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the threshold value includes a first threshold value and a second threshold value,
• wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes shutting down or reducing output power of the optical pump source,
• reducing the optical pump source output power of the optical pump source when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the first threshold value;
• and
• shutting down the optical pump source when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the second threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes setting a maintenance flag;
• and
• setting the maintenance flag when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the optical system includes a second optical pump source,
• wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes reducing output power of the first and second optical pump sources;
• and
• reducing optical pump source output power of the first and second optical pump sources when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• wherein the optical system further includes a second optical pump source,
• wherein the at least one precautionary measure includes shutting down the first and second optical pump sources;
• and
• shutting down the first and second optical pump sources when the detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds the threshold value.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• and
• emitting the pumping light signal with increasing power during power up of the optical pump source.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• and
• continuously performing said detecting and taking steps during power up and operational modes of the optical pump source.

A method for controlling an amplified optical system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber, the method comprising:

• detecting a reflected pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• taking at least one precautionary measure when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value;
• and
• determining a ratio of power of the pumping light signal emitted by the optical pump source to power of the reflected pumping light signal,
• said taking step comparing the ratio to the threshold.

A method for detecting signal path integrity in a fiber optic system including an optical fiber and an optical pump source, the method comprising:

• providing gain to a signal travelling in a segment of the optical fiber with a pumping light signal from the optical pump source;
• detecting a reflected pumping light signal, wherein the reflected pumping light signal is a reflection of the pumping light signal from the optical pump source that is reflected when the optical fiber is damaged or when a component in the optical system is degraded or failed;
• and
• determining that the signal path integrity is compromised when a detected amount of the reflected pumping light signal detected by said detecting step exceeds a threshold value.