Optical fiber transmission system with increased effective modal bandwidth transmission

A method of increasing effective modal bandwidth of an optical signal transmitting through a multi-mode optical fiber, the method comprising:

• e) generating an optical signal using a modulator coupled to a bias and data multiplexing circuit with relatively low time varying phase and sideband information;
• f) spatial mode converting the optical signal, thereby reducing modal dispersion and increasing an effective bandwidth of the optical signal while maintaining the relatively low sideband information;
• g) propagating the spatially mode converted optical signal through a multi-mode optical fiber;
• and
• h) spatial mode converting the spatially mode converted optical signal propagated through the multi-mode optical fiber while maintaining the relatively low sideband information, thereby further reducing modal dispersion and further increasing the effective bandwidth of the optical signal.

A multi-mode optical communication system comprising:

• i) an optical transmitter comprising a modulator electrically coupled to a bias and data multiplexing circuit, the optical transmitter generating an optical signal with relatively low time varying phase and sideband information at an output;
• j) a first spatial mode converter having an input that is coupled to the output of the optical transmitter, the first spatial mode converter conditioning a modal profile of the optical signal while maintaining the relatively low sideband information;
• k) a multi-mode optical fiber having an input that is coupled to an output of the first spatial mode converter;
• l) a second spatial mode converter having an input that is coupled to an output of the multi-mode optical fiber, the second spatial mode converter reducing a number of optical modes in the optical signal, wherein both the first and the second spatial mode converters increase an effective modal bandwidth of the optical signal while maintaining the relatively low sideband information;
• and
• m) an optical receiver having an input that is coupled to an output of the second spatial mode converter, the optical receiver receiving the optical signal transmitted through the second spatial mode converter.