Method and apparatus of detecting an opening in an optical transmission fiber of a ROPA system
AssigneeFinisar Israel Ltd.
InventorsMark Zaacks, Uri Ghera, David Menashe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting an opening in a transmission fiber connecting a discrete gain unit to a pump unit of a Remote Optically Pumped Amplifier (ROPA) system. The method comprises measuring an optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber, the optical power being in a selected wavelength range, and establishing that the optical power lacks an ASE noise power component generated by the gain unit. The lack of this component indicates the presence of a break or opening in the transmission fiber, and triggers corrective action whereby pump lasers within the pump unit are shut down or have their power reduced to a safe level.
Claims20
A method of detecting an opening in an optical transmission fiber of a remote optically pumped amplifier (ROPA) system which includes a pump unit having one or more pump lasers, the pump unit remotely coupled to a discrete gain unit through the optical transmission fiber, the gain unit having a gain medium which generates a gain medium amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) measuring an optical power in a selected wavelength range, the optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber;
- and
- b) determining that the measured optical power lacks a gain medium ASE noise power component, wherein the lack of the gain medium ASE noise power component indicates that the optical transmission fiber is open.
An apparatus for detecting an opening in an optical transmission fiber of a remote optically pumped amplifier (ROPA) system which includes a pump unit having one or more pump lasers, the pump unit remotely coupled to a discrete gain unit through the optical transmission fiber, the gain unit having a gain medium which generates a gain medium amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a measuring unit used to measure an optical power in a selected wavelength range, the optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber;
- and
- b) a control unit used to monitor the measured optical power and to determine whether the optical power lacks a gain medium ASE noise power component, wherein the lack of the gain medium ASE noise power component indicates that the optical transmission fiber is open.
A method of detecting an opening in an optical transmission fiber of a remote optically pumped amplifier system which includes a pump unit having one or more pump lasers, the pump unit remotely coupled to a discrete gain unit through the optical transmission fiber, the gain unit having a gain medium which generates a gain medium amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) determining whether a gain medium ASE noise power component is present or absent in an optical power within a selected wavelength entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber, wherein the absence of the gain medium ASE noise power component indicates that the optical transmission fiber is open;
- and
- b) responsive to an indication that the optical transmission fiber is open, performing an action on the one or more pump lasers to remove a laser hazard due to the open optical transmission fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.