Patents by Inventor David Winterburn
David Winterburn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9094147Abstract: The system-level control of a repeatered optical communications system. In a repeatered optical communications system, two terminals are optically coupled via an optical communications span having one or more repeaters. One of the terminals may perform the control by monitoring quality metrics of optical signals received over the communication span. Based on this monitoring, certain adjustments are determined to be performed, and the repeater controllers of the respective optical repeaters are instructed to perform the adjustments. In some case, the optical repeater adjustments cannot be made without impacting the performance of the optical signals traveling in the opposite direction. In that case, the system-level control uses monitored quality metrics from both terminals to determine the adjustments to be made. The system level adjustment may be automated by software or the like thereby making optimization of the optical communications span easier.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.Inventors: Gerhard Willem van Lochem, Stephen Desbruslais, David Winterburn
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Publication number: 20140270757Abstract: The system-level control of a repeatered optical communications system. In a repeatered optical communications system, two terminals are optically coupled via an optical communications span having one or more repeaters. One of the terminals may perform the control by monitoring quality metrics of optical signals received over the communication span. Based on this monitoring, certain adjustments are determined to be performed, and the repeater controllers of the respective optical repeaters are instructed to perform the adjustments. In some case, the optical repeater adjustments cannot be made without impacting the performance of the optical signals traveling in the opposite direction. In that case, the system-level control uses monitored quality metrics from both terminals to determine the adjustments to be made. The system level adjustment may be automated by software or the like thereby making optimization of the optical communications span easier.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: XTERA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gerhard Willem van Lochem, Stephen Desbruslais, David Winterburn
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Patent number: 8718476Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for tuning an optical discriminator to the carrier frequency of an optical signal to allow superior reception of said signal. The carrier frequency of the signal is dithered during a test phase in order to provide information that allows a subsequent tuning phase to optimise the reception of the optical signal, as measured by a signal quality metric. The tuning phase may comprise adjustment of one or both of the carrier frequency and the optical discriminator.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.Inventors: Steven Webb, David Winterburn
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Patent number: 8442405Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion compensator that includes two stages, one for reducing or eliminating first order polarization mode dispersion of an optical signal, and second stage for reducing or eliminating higher order polarization mode dispersion of the optical signal. In each stage, the polarization is adjusted so as to reduce polarization mode dispersion. Based on the power levels of various polarization states generated at the second polarization controller, the optical signal to noise ratio may be estimated. Furthermore, based on the amount of adjustment used to control the polarization controllers and the differential group delay, the polarization mode dispersion may be estimated.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.Inventors: John G. Ellison, Stephen Michael Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Desbruslais
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Patent number: 8406637Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the pre-emphasis applied to an optical signal, in which the output level of individual transmitters is controlled in order to reach a pre-defined desired value of a quality metric. Transmitters are able to adjust their output power without external control in such a way as to optimise the power distribution across the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Michael Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Debruslais
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Publication number: 20120121254Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion compensator that includes two stages, one for reducing or eliminating first order polarization mode dispersion of an optical signal, and second stage for reducing or eliminating higher order polarization mode dispersion of the optical signal. In each stage, the polarization is adjusted so as to reduce polarization mode dispersion. Based on the power levels of various polarization states generated at the second polarization controller, the optical signal to noise ratio may be estimated. Furthermore, based on the amount of adjustment used to control the polarization controllers and the differential group delay, the polarization mode dispersion may be estimated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Xtera CommunicationsInventors: John G. Ellison, Stephen Michael Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Desbruslais
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Publication number: 20090297148Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling the pre-emphasis applied to an optical signal, in which the output level of individual transmitters is controlled in order to reach a pre-defined desired value of a quality metric. Transmitters are able to adjust their output power without external control in such a way as to optimise the power distribution across the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: XTERA COMMUNICATIONS LTD.Inventors: Stephen Michael Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Desbruslais
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Publication number: 20090214200Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for tuning an optical discriminator to the carrier frequency of an optical signal to allow superior reception of said signal. The carrier frequency of the signal is dithered during a test phase in order to provide information that allows a subsequent tuning phase to optimise the reception of the optical signal, as measured by a signal quality metric. The tuning phase may comprise adjustment of one or both of the carrier frequency and the optical discriminator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: XTERA COMMUNICATIONS LTD.Inventors: Steven Webb, David Winterburn
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Publication number: 20060200710Abstract: There is provided a method and system for obtaining an enhanced estimate of bit error rate performance. A receiver module counts a predetermined number of bit errors and concurrently measures the time taken for the predetermined number of bit errors to occur. In this way an estimate of the bit error rate (BER) is obtained which has the same statistical weight regardless of the numerical value of the BER. The estimate of BER can subsequently be used to optimise the parameters of the system such that the true value of BER is at a minimum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2005Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicant: Azea Networks, Ltd.Inventors: Stephen Webb, David Winterburn, Stephen Desbruslais
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Publication number: 20050213966Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing transmission system, the system comprising: a plurality of channels at different wavelengths, each channel comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and one or more amplifiers, the system further comprising an encoder for encoding data with a coding, and; a decoder for decoding transmitted data; prioritising means for prioritising the data on each channel; monitoring means for monitoring directly or indirectly, raw (uncorrected) bit errors on each channel; power adjusting means for, varying the power on a channel in response to tho bit error rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: Martin Chown, Stuart Barnes, Stephen Webb, David Winterburn