Abstract: It is disclosed that a method and apparatus that automatically monitors each channel's optical signal-to-noise ration (OSNR) using optical filter and polarization extinction method in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme-based optical transmission systems. OSNR is simply measured using optical filter by comparing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) over the signal band, of which bandwidth has changed, while leaving signal intensity intact, with that original signal and, OSNR measurement is allowable over a wider range of OSNR by minimizing the ratio of signal to ASE over the signal band using polarization extinction method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for monitoring optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) in a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system. The present invention utilizes a polarization nulling method and a tunable optical bandpass filter in order to reliably monitor the OSNR by considering a finite polarization nulling ratio, polarization mode dispersion and non-linear birefringence of the optical system in real time measurement of the OSNR. Further, the tunable optical bandpass filter is controlled to filter all wavelength bands of wavelength division multiplexed signals. Since the invention may monitor a plurality of demultiplexed optical signals with a single apparatus, the overall cost of the OSNR monitoring equipment is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically monitoring an optical signal-to-noise ratio in which an arbitrarily polarized optical signal including an unpolarized ASE noise is inputted to a rotating quarter-wave plate and then to a rotating linear polarizer so that a maximum power and a minimum power of the signal outputted from the rotating linear polarizer can be detected, and the detected maximum power and minimum power is used for automatically monitoring the optical signal-to-noise ratio.