Integrated adaptive chromatic dispersion/polarization mode dispersion compensation system

An integrated optical receiver system for receiving at least one wavelength channel in an optical transmission, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one wavelength channel, and generate at least one control signal in accordance with the measured at least one characteristic;
• a feedback element coupled to the controller, the feedback element being configured to propagate the at least one control signal;
• and
• an integrated dispersion compensation module configured to apply chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation to the at least one wavelength channel in accordance with the at least one control signal to thereby optimize the at least one characteristic,
• wherein the integrated dispersion compensation module further comprises:
• a chromatic dispersion compensation portion configured to perform chromatic dispersion compensation on the at least one wavelength channel, and
• a polarization mode dispersion compensation portion configured to perform polarization mode dispersion compensation on the at least one wavelength channel, wherein the polarization mode dispersion compensation portion includes a polarization controller and a tunable differential delay unit, and
• wherein the chromatic dispersion compensation portion, the polarization controller and the tunable differential delay unit are responsive to the at least one control signal to the thereby optimize the at least one characteristic.

A method for performing dispersion compensation in a receiver in an optical network, the method comprising:

• providing an integrated dispersion compensation module, the integrated dispersion compensation module being coupled to the receiver via a feedback control loop;
• measuring at least one characteristic of at least one wavelength channel in an optical transmission;
• transmitting a first feedback control signal to the integrated dispersion compensation module via the control loop, the first control signal being derived from the measured at least one characteristic, whereby the integrated dispersion compensation module applies chromatic dispersion compensation to the at least one wavelength signal channel in response to the first feedback control signal;
• transmitting a second control signal to the integrated dispersion compensation module via the control loop, the second control signal being derived from the measured at least one characteristic, whereby the integrated dispersion compensation module applies polarization control to the at least one wavelength signal in response to the second feedback control signal;
• and
• transmitting a third control signal to the integrated dispersion compensation module via the control loop the third control signal being derived from the measured at least one characteristic, the integrated dispersion compensation module applying polarization mode dispersion compensation to the at least one wavelength signal in response to the third feedback control signal.

An integrated system for performing dispersion compensation on at least one wavelength channel, the system comprising:

• a tunable integrated dispersion compensation module configured to perform chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation on the at least one wavelength channel;
• and
• a feedback element coupled to the integrated dispersion compensation module, the feedback element being configured to provide a feedback control signal to thereby adjust the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module until a predetermined characteristic of the at least one wavelength channel is optimized,
• wherein the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module includes a tunable differential delay unit, and
• wherein the tunable differential delay unit performs both chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation.

An integrated system for performing dispersion compensation on at least one wavelength channel, the system comprising:

• a tunable integrated dispersion compensation module configured to perform chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation on the at least one wavelength channel;
• and
• a feedback element coupled to the integrated dispersion compensation module, the feedback element being configured to provide a feedback control signal to thereby adjust the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module until a predetermined characteristic of the at least one WDM signal is optimized wherein the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module further comprises:
• a polarization beam splitter coupled to an input portion of the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module, the polarization beam splitter being configured to split the WDM signal into two mutually orthogonal WDM signals;
• and
• a polarization beam combiner coupled to an output portion of the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module, the polarization beam combiner being configured to combine two mutually orthogonal signals.

An integrated optical receiver system for receiving at least one wavelength channel in an optical transmission, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one wavelength channel, and generate at least one control signal in accordance with the measured at least one characteristic;
• a feedback element coupled to the controller, the feedback element being configured to propagate the at least one control signal;
• and
• an integrated dispersion compensation module configured to apply chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation to the at least one wavelength channel in accordance with the at least one control signal to optimize the at least one characteristic,
• wherein the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module includes a tunable differential delay unit that performs both chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation.

An integrated optical receiver system for receiving at least one wavelength channel in an optical transmission, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to measure at least one characteristic of the at least one wavelength channel, and generate at least one control signal in accordance with the measured at least one characteristic;
• a feedback element coupled to the controller, the feedback element being configured to propagate the at least one control signal;
• and
• an integrated dispersion compensation module configured to apply chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation to the at least one wavelength channel in accordance with the at least one control signal to optimize the at least one characteristic,
• wherein the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module further comprises:
• a polarization beam splitter coupled to an input portion of the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module, the polarization beam splitter being configured to split the WDM signal into two mutually orthogonal WDM signals;
• and
• a polarization beam combiner coupled to an output portion of the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module, the polarization beam combiner being configured to combine two mutually orthogonal signals.