Abstract: An optical transmission system including at least one optical transmitter configured to transmit at least one signal wavelength and a tuning wavelength, an optical receiver including an optical filter having a filter bandwidth including the at least one signal wavelength and a percentage of the tuning wavelength and an optical to electrical signal converter configured to receive the at least one signal wavelength from said filter, a first tuning optical to electrical converter configured to receive a first portion of the tuning wavelength stopped by said filter, a second tuning optical to electrical converter configured to receive a second portion of the tuning wavelength passed by said filter, and a filter controller configured to tune the filter bandwidth based on the relative proportion of first and second portions of the tuning wavelength provided to the first and second tuning optical to electrical converters.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier generally including an optical signal amplifying medium supplied with pump power in the form of optical energy in via an optical pump source. The pump source includes multiple optical sources, at least two of which provide optical energy in first and second wavelength ranges separated by a frequency difference. The amplifier includes a wavelength controller configured to adjust the wavelength range of at least one of the optical sources to vary the frequency difference in a manner sufficient to vary optical intensity noise produced when the optical energy from the multiple optical sources is combined.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include an add/drop device and/or cross-connect device, which is reconfigurable to add and drop signal wavelengths between one or more transmission paths. The add/drop device includes a first selective element configurable to pass a first group of signal wavelengths including at least a first signal wavelength from an input path to a first add/drop path and pass continuing signal wavelengths differing from the first group of signal wavelength to a second add/drop path. A second selective element is provided that is configurable to pass a second group of signal wavelengths including at least a second signal wavelength from said first add/drop path and continuing signal wavelengths differing from the second group of wavelengths from said second add/drop path to an output path.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via a plurality of signal varying devices. A first signal varying device includes an optical fiber configured to produce Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a first signal variation profile. A first pump source is configured provides sufficient pump power in a plurality of first pump wavelengths to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. A second signal varying device is provided having a second signal variation profile to produce a cumulative signal variation profile that differs from the first and second signal variation profiles.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention are configured in optical networks including a plurality of optical switch nodes interconnected by a plurality of optical transmission fibers, or other waveguides. The transmission fibers in the network can provide working and/or protection capacity for information, or communications traffic, being transmitted through the network. In various embodiments of the network, multiple diverse, working routes are provided on a single fiber path interconnecting a plurality of switch nodes. The multiple, diverse working routes can then be protected using a common protection fiber or path to provide shared protection. The switch nodes include optical switch configured to provide various levels of optical switching depending upon the network configuration. For example, line switches as well as optical cross-connects and routers can be deployed in the present invention to switch one or more wavelengths between the working and protection fibers.

Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.

Abstract: The optical systems of the present invention include optical switching device generally configured to control signal characteristic profiles over the pluralities of signal channels, or wavelengths, to provide desired signal characteristic profiles at the output ports of the device. Various signal characteristics that can be controlled include power level, cross-talk, optical signal to noise ratio, etc. The optical switching devices can include balanced demultiplexer/multiplexer combinations and switches that provide for uniform optical loss through the devices. In addition, low extinction ratio switches can be configured to provide higher extinction ratios.

Abstract: An optical communications system, including first terminal equipment, second terminal equipment, third terminal equipment, a first powered optical segment connected to the first terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, a second powered optical segment connected to the second terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, an unpowered optical segment connected to the third terminal equipment, and a branch unit connecting the first powered segment, the second powered segment, and the unpowered segment via passive, all-optical connections, and wherein the unpowered segment is pumped with optical energy through the branch unit from at least one of the amplifiers in the first and second powered segments.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical amplifiers configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least two of the optical amplifier are operated to provide net losses or net gains along corresponding spans, while the cumulative gain provided by the plurality of optical amplifiers substantially compensates for the cumulative loss of the spans.

Abstract: An optical communications system including a submarine optical communications system, a landing station associated with the submarine optical communications system, a terrestrial optical communications system, a point of presence associated with the terrestrial optical communications system, a first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station, and a second wavelength division multiplexed optical connection between the point of presence and the landing station and routed diversely from the first wavelength division multiplexed optical connection.

Abstract: An optical transmission system including at least one optical transmitter configured to transmit at least one signal wavelength and a tuning wavelength, an optical receiver including an optical filter having a filter bandwidth including the at least one signal wavelength and a percentage of the tuning wavelength and an optical to electrical signal converter configured to receive the at least one signal wavelength from said filter, a first tuning optical to electrical converter configured to receive a first portion of the tuning wavelength stopped by said filter, a second tuning optical to electrical converter configured to receive a second portion of the tuning wavelength passed by said filter, and a filter controller configured to tune the filter bandwidth based on the relative proportion of first and second portions of the tuning wavelength provided to the first and second tuning optical to electrical converters.

Abstract: An optical communications system, including first terminal equipment, second terminal equipment, third terminal equipment, a first powered optical segment connected to the first terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, a second powered optical segment connected to the second terminal equipment and including at least one amplifier, an unpowered optical segment connected to the third terminal equipment, and a branch unit connecting the first powered segment, the second powered segment, and the unpowered segment via passive, all-optical connections, and wherein the unpowered segment is pumped with optical energy through the branch unit from at least one of the amplifiers in the first and second powered segments.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier in which pump power being provided to an amplifying medium is amplified using a pump amplifier prior to being introduced into the amplifying medium. In various embodiments, a cascaded Raman resonator is used as a pump booster source to provide Raman amplification of the pump power being supplied from one or more pump sources to the signal channel amplifying medium.

Abstract: Transmission systems, components, and assemblies including a thermo-electric device which may include a variable duty cycle power supply and/or a variable hysteresis comparator in the form of a discrete component or embodied in digital or integrated form, such as in a processor. The systems, components, and assemblies may also include sensors that measure both chamber temperature and ambient temperature for thermo-stabilizing a device.

Abstract: Devices, such as node and network elements for use in communications systems, which include a plurality of ports, each having an input and an output, a plurality of splitters corresponding to the port inputs, a plurality of combiners corresponding to the port outputs, a plurality of signal paths between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the signal paths includes a signal varying device, and a plurality of protection devices connected between the splitters and the combiners, wherein each of the plurality of protection devices includes a signal varying device and provides a protection path corresponding to a plurality of the signal paths, and wherein at least one splitter has at least one unused output after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected, and wherein at least one combiner has at least one unused input after the signal paths and the protection paths are connected.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need for optical transmission systems, apparatuses, and methods having increased flexibility and reliability. Optical systems of the present invention are configured to provide alarms, provision, and/or perform protection switching, if the number of corrected errors exceeds a threshold criteria. Various system parameters, in addition to protection thresholds, can be adjusted based on the relationship between the number of one errors, zero errors, and/or total errors being corrected in the system.

Abstract: A retainer provides locking and compliance between components. In a first implementation, the retainer includes a non-compliant member and a compliant member. The non-compliant member is configured to expand in a first direction. The compliant member attaches to the non-compliant member and is configured to deflect forces applied to the non-compliant member in the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction. In a second implementation, the retainer includes a rail and a group of wedge segments configured to attach to the rail and expand in a first direction. At least one of the wedge segments includes an integrated spring element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to transmission systems, components, and assemblies including a thermoelectric assembly. The thermo-electric assembly may include a chamber and a thermo-electric device in thermal communication with the chamber, wherein the thermo-electric device forms part of a static H-bridge configuration. The assembly may also include a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with the chamber and a second temperature sensor in thermal communication with an ambient environment. A variable power supply having a power output connected to the thermo-electric device and having a control input is included, in addition to a linear driver having an output connected to the thermo-electric device.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include optical protection systems, apparatuses, and methods that provide increased reliability in the system. The optical system generally includes an optical switch having distinct, cooperating dedicated and shared protection sections. The shared protection sections in a plurality of nodes can be configured to provide a protection net, in which a plurality of traffic demands, or working channels, are commonly protected as protection group using one protection channels supported by the protection net.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for controlling optical signal wavelength spacing by providing for simultaneous upconversion of a plurality of electrical signal on subcarrier frequencies of an optical carrier frequency with or without modulation of an electrical data signal onto the optical carrier frequency. The optical carrier lightwave is split into a plurality of split lightwaves upon which one or more electrical frequencies carrying information can be upconverted onto optical subcarriers of the lightwave carrier frequency. The relative spacings of the optical subcarrier lightwaves will thus be unaffected by variation in the carrier frequency. The optical subcarrier lightwaves can then be recombined to form the optical data signal carrying the plurality of information carried by the electrical frequencies.