Passively output flattened optical amplifier
AssigneeAgere Systems Guardian Corp.
InventorJin Hong Lim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical amplifier and communications system for amplifying an input signal and providing an output signal includes a nonlinear light absorber for passively controlling the level of the output signal. The nonlinear light absorber provides an approximately constant output signal level independent of the level of the input signal.
Claims13
An optical amplifier for amplifying at least one input signal and providing at least one output signal, said amplifier comprising at least one nonlinear light absorber for passively controlling a level of said at least one output signal, wherein said level of said at least one output signal is approximately constant independent of a level of said at least one input signal.
A communications system operating within at least one of 1528 to 1565 nanometers, inclusively and 1570 to 1610 nanometers, inclusively, said system comprising:
- an optical amplifier for amplifying a plurality of multiplexed input signals and providing a plurality of multiplexed output signals, said amplifier comprising:
- at least one erbium-doped fiber for amplifying said plurality of input signals;
- at least one nonlinear light absorber for passively controlling a level of said plurality of multiplexed output signals, said nonlinear light absorber providing an approximately constant level of said plurality of multiplexed output signals independent of a level of said plurality of multiplexed input signals;
- at least one pump source for providing optical energy to said at least one erbium-doped fiber;
- at least one isolator for attenuating reflected optical energy;
- and
- at least one wavelength division multiplexer for multiplexing said plurality of multiplexed input signals with said optical energy provided by said at least one pump source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.