Optical fiber amplifier with reduced noise
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorMark C. Chiappetta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light amplifier includes a source of multiple light beams, each modulated with the same information, and a plurality of light amplifying optical fibers, each amplifying one of the light beams. The amplified light from each amplifying fiber is converted to electric form, and the electrical signals are summed to add the information and average the noise. In one embodiment, the bundle of fibers is twisted as it is wound about a cylinder, to average the compressive and tension forces on the fibers of the bundle. In another embodiment, a common cladding surrounds a bundle of fibers.
Claims15
A communication system for transmitting information from a source of information to a utilization device, said system comprising:
- a source of a first plurality of light beams, each of said light beams carrying the same information;
- a plurality of amplifying optical fibers, each of said amplifying optical fibers of said plurality defining an input port coupled to one of said light beams of said source of plural light beams for receiving and propagating a light beam, each of said plurality of optical fibers also defining an output port at which said propagating light beam is manifested;
- a plurality, equal to said first plurality, of light-to-electric converters, each of said light-to-electric converters including a light input port coupled to an output port of a corresponding one of said optical fibers, for receiving said manifested light therefrom, and also including an electrical output port, for producing at said electrical output port an electrical signal including said information and also including noise attributable to said amplification, which noise differs from fiber to fiber;
- and
- electrical summing means coupled to said electrical output ports of each of said light-to-electric converters, for summing together said electrical signals including said information and said noise, for thereby tending to average said noise for improving the signal-to-noise ratio.
A communication system for transmitting information from a source of information to a utilization device, said system comprising:
- a source of a first plurality of light beams, each of said light beams carrying the same information;
- a plurality of amplifying optical fibers, each of said amplifying optical fibers of said plurality defining an input port coupled to one of said light beams of said source of plural light beams for receiving and propagating a light beam, each of said plurality of optical fibers also defining an output port at which said propagating light beam is manifested;
- a plurality, equal to said first plurality, of detectors, each of said detectors including a light input port coupled to an output port of a corresponding one of said optical fibers, for receiving said manifested light therefrom, and also including an electrical output port, for producing at said electrical output port an electrical signal including said information and also including noise attributable to said amplification, which noise differs from fiber to fiber;
- and
- electrical summing means coupled to said electrical output ports of each of said detectors, for summing together said electrical signals including said information and said noise, for thereby tending to average said noise for improving the signal-to-noise ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.