Patents Examined by M. R. Sedighian
  • Patent number: 8942563
    Abstract: A wavelength tunable device for use in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system comprising a display device for displaying at least one operating wavelength of the wavelength tunable device. The display device is electrically coupled to a control unit in the wavelength tunable device so as to display the tuned wavelength in real time. The wavelength tunable device may be, in exemplary embodiments, an optical transponder, wavelength division demultiplexer, or wavelength division multiplexer. In embodiments where the optical equipment has a plurality of tunable ports, the display device is adapted to display the operating wavelength of each tunable port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventor: Guodong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8934786
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical transmitter that comprises a processor and at least one optical modulator. The processor is configured to generate electronic representations of at least two pre-dispersion-compensated phase-conjugated optical variants carrying a same modulated payload data for transmission. The at least one optical modulator is configured to modulate the electronic representations, wherein an amount of dispersion induced on the pre-dispersion-compensated phase-conjugated optical variants depends on an accumulated dispersion (AD) of a transmission link through which the pre-dispersion-compensated phase-conjugated optical variants are to be transmitted. The amount of dispersion induced on the phase-conjugated optical variants may be approximately ?AD/2, where AD is the accumulated dispersion of the transmission link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Peter J. Winzer, Andrew Roman Chraplyvy, Robert William Tkach
  • Patent number: 8929728
    Abstract: A method for realizing an automatic protection switching of a transmission device is provided, and the method includes that: according to a received automatic protection switching trigger condition and information of each line sub-card, which are transmitted by a cross sub-card via a Time Division Multiplexing Fabric to Framer Interface (TFI5) frame, a control sub-card determines to execute protection switching, and sends a protection switching command to the cross sub-card; and the cross sub-card completes the protection switching action. A system for realizing an automatic protection switching of a transmission device is also provided. According to the technical solution of the present invention, the automatic protection switching of the transmission device in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) is achieved conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Changlong Zhong, Jian Geng
  • Patent number: 8929744
    Abstract: Integrated performance monitoring (PM); optical layer operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P); alarming; amplification, and the like is described in optical transceivers, such as multi-source agreement (MSA)-defined modules. An optical transceiver defined by an MSA agreement can include advanced integrated functions for carrier-grade operation which preserves the existing MSA specifications allowing the optical transceiver to operate with any compliant MSA host device with advanced features and functionality. The optical transceiver can include CFP and variants thereof (e.g., CFP2, CDFP, CXP), OIF-MSA-100GLH-EM-01.0, CCRx (Compact Coherent Receiver), Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) and variants thereof (e.g., QSFP+, QSFP2), 10×10 MSA, XFP, XPAK, XENPAK, X2, XFP-E, SFP, SFP+, 300-pin, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Menara Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Siraj Nour El-Ahmadi, Salam El-Ahmadi, Adam R. Hotchkiss, Gabriel E. Cardona
  • Patent number: 8897653
    Abstract: A subscriber-side optical network unit (ONU) includes a control LSI for outputting a data signal and a pre-bias signal at fixed intervals, an optical transmitter-receiver for producing optical output in response to these signals, and a light-emission error preventing circuit for preventing light-emission error. First and second light-emission error detecting circuits output an abnormality detection alarm signal when no rising edge occurs in the data signal and pre-bias signal for a prescribed period of time. An OR element, when receiving the abnormality detection alarm signal from at least one of the first and second light-emission error detecting circuits, supplies the optical transmitter-receiver with a shutdown signal and halts the optical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Senoo, Masaki Noda, Shigeo Yamanaka, Masatoshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 8891971
    Abstract: Implementations of an apparatus including an optical circuit switch (OCS) having a plurality of OCS input/output ports, at least one optical circulator having a port optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of OCS input/output ports and a reflection mitigation positioned in the optical path between each optical circulator port and its corresponding OCS input/output port and/or in the optical path inside the OCS. A corresponding optical transceiver is optically coupled to each of the at least one optical circulators. Each optical transceiver includes a transmitter optically coupled to one port of the optical circulator and a receiver optically coupled to another port of the optical circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Ryohei Urata, Christopher L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8891968
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading, detecting, and monitoring channel-associated signals are provided. Channel-associated signals are identified with spread spectrum codes in the electrical domain, and after being modulated to an optical service signal at respective loading points separately, the channel-associated identification signals are transmitted in the optical channel along with the optical signal. At any downstream detecting point, passing optical signals can be converted through photoelectric conversion, and the channel-associated identification signals are de-spread. By detecting the channel-associated signals, it is possible to learn about whether the upstream loading point work normally, whether the optical channel operates normally, etc., and thereby to find possible failures, solve problems, and monitor quality parameters of optical signals in real time, and improve reliability of the optical signal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Congqi Li
  • Patent number: 8891972
    Abstract: An optical receiving apparatus includes a variable dispersion compensation unit, a delay interference unit, a photoelectric converter, a polarization control unit for control the polarization state of an optical signal inputted to the photoelectric converter, a received data processing unit for monitoring the number of error occurrences, and a control unit for controlling the dispersion compensation amount at the variable dispersion compensation unit and the optical phase control amount at the delay interference unit, based on information on the number of error occurrences from the received data processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Telecom Networks Limited
    Inventor: Toshiki Honda
  • Patent number: 8879922
    Abstract: An apparatus receives data encoded in a format where information bits for transmission are mapped into symbols each carrying a plurality of bits, some of which are encoded through a frequency-shift keyed (FSK) format and the rest of which are encoded through an additional modulation format on at least one FSK carrier. The receiver detects the signal through a dual-polarization coherent receiver front-end, and recovers polarization components of the signal by decoding a first non-zero portion of a plurality of bits carried by a symbol based on frequency slot position of at least one FSK carrier in the polarization components and a second non-zero portion of the plurality of bits carried by the symbol based on the additional modulation carried by at least one FSK carrier in the polarization components. Pilot-assisted orthogonal frequency-division de-multiplexing (PA-OFDM) may be used for spectrally-efficient signal reception, even in the presence of severe FSK errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Andrew Roman Chraplyvy, Robert William Tkach
  • Patent number: 8879927
    Abstract: An optical receiver, a method of operating an optical receiver, a correction based transimpedance amplifier circuit, and a method of adjusting an output of a transimpedance amplifier. In one embodiment, the optical receiver comprises an optical-to-electrical converter, a transimpedance amplifier, and a correction circuit. The optical-to-electrical converter is provided for receiving an optical signal and converting the optical signal to an electrical signal. The transimpedance amplifier is provided for receiving the electrical signal from the optical-to-electrical converter and for generating from the electrical signal an amplified electrical signal. The amplified electrical signal has inter symbol interference resulting from a reduced bandwidth of the transimpedance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Proesel, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint L. Schow, Yurii A. Vlasov
  • Patent number: 8873964
    Abstract: Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew L. Mitchell, Robert B. Taylor, Alan C. Nilsson, Steven Joseph Hand, Daniel P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8873960
    Abstract: A method for detecting faults and their locations in an optical path between an optical line terminal (OLT) of and optical network units (ONUs) of a passive optical network (PON). The method comprises forming a maintenance optical link through the PON between the OLT and a collocated ONU, the OLT and its collocated ONU are each connected to an optical splitter; sending a ranging request from the OLT to the collocated ONU; in response to the ranging request, receiving, over the maintenance optical line, a ranging burst signal including at least a fault analysis detection pattern (FADP); and analyzing the FADP in the received signal by auto-correlating the FADP signal with an expected FADP signal, an uncorrelated event measured through the auto-correlation is indicative of a fault in the optical path of the PON and occurrence times of such events are indicative of the fault's location in the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Amiad Dvir, Eli Elmoalem
  • Patent number: 8873967
    Abstract: An optical interconnection module (100) for connecting to a media converter module (20) as part of a hybrid electrical-optical network (10) is disclosed. The optical interconnection module includes a transmitter connector (136T) having transmit ports (POT(i)) and a receiver connector having receive ports (POR(i)). The optical interconnection module also has transmit/receive ports (POF(i)) that are optically connected via a set (F) of fibers (142) to the transmit and receive ports of the transmitter and receiver connectors using one of two port configurations. Hybrid electrical-optical networks that utilize a trunk cable (60) to connect the media converter module to the optical interconnection module are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Ray S. Barnes, Robert W. Dennis, Alan W. Ugolini
  • Patent number: 8867929
    Abstract: An optical receiver includes an optical detector that generates a photocurrent at an output. A transimpedance amplifier generates an amplified voltage signal corresponding to the photocurrent generated by the optical detector. An offset voltage generator generates an offset voltage that biases the voltage signal generated by the transimpedance amplifier. A switch having a first input electrically connected to the output of the transimpedance amplifier and a second input electrically connected to the output of the offset voltage generator switches between the offset voltage and the voltage signal generated by the transimpedance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: II-VI Photonics (US) Inc.
    Inventors: John Dietz, Michael Cahill
  • Patent number: 8861955
    Abstract: An optical communications network node (10) comprising an optical transmitter module (16), an optical receiver module (12), an electrical cross-point switch (20) and control apparatus (24, 26). The optical transmitter module (16) comprises optical sources (18) each having a different operating wavelength and each being selectively assignable as an optical circuit switching channel source or an optical burst switching channel source. The optical receiver module (12) comprises a said plurality of optical detectors each operable at one of said operating wavelengths. The electrical cross-point switch (20) comprises switch paths (22) and is configurable to allocate a first set of switch paths for optical circuit switching and a second set of switch paths for optical burst switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Francesco Testa, Marzio Puleri, Roberto Sabella, Patrizia Testa
  • Patent number: 8861971
    Abstract: A phased antenna array includes an array of antenna elements, and an electro-optic (EO) readout circuit coupled to the array of antenna elements. The EO readout circuit includes an optical source having a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to generate an optical carrier signal including beam carrier wavelengths, a first EO modulator configured to modulate a signal from an antenna element based upon the optical carrier signal, a second WDM coupled downstream from the first EO modulator, and optical-to-electrical converters coupled downstream from the second WDM. The second WDM is configured to multiplex each modulated beam carrier wavelength to a respective optical-to-electrical converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Middleton, Alan Mast, Jay Kralovec, Richard DeSalvo, Gus W. Deibner
  • Patent number: 8861953
    Abstract: Portable apparatus for measuring parameters of optical signals propagating concurrently in opposite directions in an optical transmission path between two elements, at least one of the elements being operative to transmit a first optical signal (S1) only if it continues to receive a second optical signal (S2) from the other (10) of said elements, comprises first and second connectors for connecting the apparatus into the optical transmission path in series therewith, and a device connected between the first and second connectors for propagating at least the second optical signal (S2) towards the one of the elements, and measuring the parameters of the concurrently propagating optical signals (S1, S2). The measurement results may be displayed by a suitable display unit. Where one element transmits signals at two different wavelengths, the apparatus may separate parts of the corresponding optical signal portion according to wavelength and process them separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: EXFO Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Ruchet, Normand Cyr
  • Patent number: 8855489
    Abstract: Communications method between a main station and processing nodes includes interconnecting the main station and the nodes in an optical path defining adjacent nodes and non-adjacent nodes, operatively grouping the nodes in a plurality of distinct sub-groups, each formed by non-adjacent nodes, at least one of said sub-groups including at least two nodes generating at the main station a multiplexed optical signal propagating along the path for serving the nodes, the multiplexed optical signal including a plurality of optical channel signals having a respective plurality of distinct carrier wavelengths, each carrier wavelength being associated with a respective sub-group of nodes, and serving each node of each sub-group of nodes with a respective portion of the optical channel signal having the associated carrier wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mauro Boldi, Alberto Rossaro, Roberto Quasso, Sara Gabba
  • Patent number: 8855491
    Abstract: A method for performing a protection in passive optical networks. The method comprises forming a protection maintenance link between an active optical line terminal (OLT) and a standby OLT; forming a synchronization link between the active OLT and the standby OLT; computing a base differential distance value; continuously measuring round trip time (RTT) values by the active OLT using the protection maintenance link; periodically sending at least RTT values calculated by the active OLT to the standby OLT over the synchronization link; and computing, by the standby OLT, a new RTT value based on at least a RTT value measured by the active OLT and a standby differential distance value, when a switch-over action is triggered, thereby allowing the standby OLT to serve optical network units (ONUs) in the PON without performing a ranging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Eli Elmoalem, Amiad Dvir
  • Patent number: 8855484
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method applicable to a fiber-optic transceiver including a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) provided therein with a laser diode, but without a monitoring photodiode, a laser driver controlled by a controller IC for driving the laser diode to generate a laser beam, and a thermal sensor for sensing temperature of the laser diode. The method includes executing an approximation process to characteristic data, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha Networks Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Hung Tsai