Optical amplifier gain control monitoring
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsSimon P. Parry, Eric S. Maniloff, Gary Mak, Andy Rowland, Franz H. Mok
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for tracking dynamic characteristics of an optical amplifier, optical signal probes are used to determine the gain and the corner frequency of the optical amplifier. A first optical probe having a predetermined modulation frequency above an expected corner frequency of the amplifier is used to estimate the gain of the optical amplifier. A second optical probe signal having a second predetermined modulation frequency at or below the expected corner frequency of the amplifier is used to estimate the corner frequency. These parameters can be used to optimize gain control of an optical amplifier.
Claims15
A method of tracking dynamic characteristics of an optical amplifier, the method comprising steps of:
- estimating a gain of the amplifier using a first optical probe signal having a first predetermined modulation frequency above an expected corner frequency of the amplifier;
- and
- estimating a corner frequency of the amplifier using at least one second optical probe signal having a respective second predetermined modulation frequency at or below the expected corner frequency of the amplifier.
A system for tracking dynamic characteristics of an optical amplifier, the system comprising:
- gain estimating means for estimating a gain of the amplifier using a first optical probe signal having a first predetermined modulation frequency above an expected corner frequency of the amplifier;
- and
- corner frequency estimating means for estimating a corner frequency of the amplifier using a second optical probe signal having a second predetermined modulation frequency at or below the expected corner frequency of the amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.