US 9,438,004 B2 · Optical pumping and powering in spatially multiplexed transmission links

Abstract

A spatially multiplexed optical link having a plurality of transmission paths, wherein at least one transmission path is configured to carry an optical-pump signal while one or more other transmission paths carry data-bearing signals. Disposed within the optical link are an optical signal-distribution module and an amplifier module. The optical signal-distribution module is configured to couple portions of the optical-pump signal into the data-bearing transmission paths. The amplifier module is configured to amplify the data-bearing signals using these portions of the optical-pump signal as a power source in a suitable all-optical amplification scheme. The optical-pump signal can optionally be tapped and applied to a photovoltaic element configured to directly power a device, e.g., an optical performance monitor, or to charge the battery of that device to enable its autonomous operation if external electrical power is not available where the device is deployed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising an optical signal-distribution module configured to end-connect to first and second multi-core optical fibers such that each optical core of the first multi-core optical fiber is end-connected to a corresponding optical core of the second multi-core optical fiber, wherein the optical signal-distribution module is configured to:

transfer a portion of optical power of a first optical core of the first multi-core optical fiber to each of two or more optical cores of the second multi-core optical fiber;
and
transfer optical power of each of the one or more second optical cores of the first multi-core optical fiber to a corresponding one of the two or more optical cores of the second multi-core optical fiber.

An apparatus comprising an optical signal-distribution module configured to end-connect to first and second multi-core optical fibers or optical fiber cables such that each optical core of the first multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable is end-connected to a corresponding optical core of the second multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable, wherein the optical signal-distribution module is configured to transfer a portion of optical power of one of the optical cores of the first multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable to one or more optical cores of the second multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable or to other one or more optical cores of the first multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable, wherein the optical signal-distribution module comprises:

a first input port connected to a first core of the first multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable and a first output port connected to a first core of the second multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable;
a second input port connected to a second core of the first multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable and a second output port connected to a second core of the second multi-core optical fiber or optical fiber cable;
an optical-beam splitter configured to receive a first optical signal from the first input port;
and
an optical-beam combiner configured to receive a second optical signal from the second input port, wherein:
the optical-beam splitter is further configured to:
split the first optical signal into a first split signal and a second split signal;
direct the first split signal to the optical-beam combiner;
and
direct the second split signal to the first output port;
and
the optical-beam combiner is further configured to:
combine the first split signal and the second optical signal to produce a combined signal;
and
direct the combined signal to the second output port.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical pumping and powering in spatially multiplexed transmission links

Life of this patent

Optical pumping and powering in spatially multiplexed transmission links

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20