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US 7,120,330 B2Granted
Apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels
AssigneeTyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.
InventorsR. Brian Jander, Hongbin Zhang, Thomas R. Lawrence
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of an apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels are disclosed. Utilizing the optical channels formed using non-polarization-maintaining components, the apparatus selectively controls a state of polarization (SOP) of each optical channel.
Claims19
An apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels without using polarization maintaining fiber outside the transmitter, comprising:
- an N×1 wavelength multiplexer for combining a first and a second plurality of optical channels, the multiplexer having an output adapted for outputting the WDM signal, where an optical signal of each channel of said first plurality of optical channels has a first state of polarization (SOP) and an optical signal of each channel of said second plurality of optical channels has a second state of polarization (SOP);
- a broadband wavelength insensitive splitter for tapping a portion of the WDM signal power;
- a polarization splitter coupled to the first output of the broadband splitter, the polarization splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the second SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the first SOP;
- a first wavelength demultiplexer of the first plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the polarization splitter;
- a second wavelength demultiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the second output of the polarization splitter;
- and
- a plurality of sensors of optical power of a respective optical channel, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel,
- wherein the first SOP is orthogonal to the second SOP.
5 more elements
An apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels, comprising:
- a first wavelength multiplexer of the first plurality of optical channels, where an optical signal of each channel of said first plurality of optical channels has a first state of polarization (SOP);
- a first polarization splitter coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, the splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the second SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the first SOP;
- a first wavelength demultiplexer of the first plurality of optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the first splitter;
- a first plurality of sensors optical power of a respective optical channel of the first plurality of the optical channels, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel;
- a second wavelength multiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels, where an optical signal of each channel of said second plurality of optical channels has a second state of polarization (SOP);
- a second polarization splitter coupled to an output of the second multiplexer, the splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the first SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the second SOP;
- a second wavelength demultiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the second splitter;
- a second plurality of sensors of optical power of a respective optical channel of the second plurality of the optical channels, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel;
- and
- a polarization combiner having a first input coupled to the second output of the first polarization splitter using polarization-maintaining fiber, a second input coupled to the second output of the second polarization splitter using polarization-maintaining fiber, and an output for outputting the WDM signal, wherein the first SOP is orthogonal to the second SOP.
7 more elements
A method of forming a WDM signal comprising:
- combining at least a first plurality of optical channels into an aggregate signal;
- demultiplexing a first portion of said aggregate signal into said first plurality of optical channels to provide demultiplexed channels;
- sensing an optical power associated with each of said demultiplexed channels;
- controlling the polarization of each of said demultiplexed channels in response to said optical power associated with each of said demultiplexed channels;
- providing a second portion of said aggregate signal as at least a portion said WDM signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.