US 6,553,159 B1 · Method and system for controlling the output of an optical pump energy source

Abstract

The amplification and noise level of an optical communication signal is controlled by providing a feedback loop to adjust the energy level of an optical pump energy source used to amplify the communication signal. The communication signal is combined with an optical control signal outputted by the pump energy source. The communication signal is amplified as the combined signals pass through an erbium doped fiber optic cable energized by the control signal. The amplified communication signal is then separated from the control signal. The control signal is in a depleted state (substantially residual pump energy) after traveling through the length of the erbium doped fiber optic cable. A feedback signal, used to adjust the energy level of the control signal, is generated based on the amplified communication signal and the depleted control signal.

Claims27

Dependent claims

In an optical system comprising a system input, a system output, a first optical detector, a second optical detector, and an optical pump energy source which outputs an optical control signal at a particular amplitude, a method comprising:

(a) receiving an optical communication signal at the system input;
(b) amplifying the communication signal using the control signal;
(c) filtering out noise from the amplified communication signal;
(d) inputting the filtered communication signal into the first detector;
(e) inputting the control signal into the second detector;
and
(f) controlling the amplitude of the control signal based on signals outputted by the first and second detectors, wherein the first detector outputs a signal with minimal noise to the system output.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for controlling the output of an optical pump energy source

Life of this patent

Method and system for controlling the output of an optical pump energy source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27