Abstract: A method and system provide for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device. The system may have a plurality of laser signals and a plurality of identifiable modulation signals. A respective laser signal of the plurality of laser signals is combined with a respective identifiable modulation signal of the plurality of identifiable modulation signals so that each of the laser signals is identifiable. A combined optical signal is then formed from the modulated laser signals. A sensor has an input port that receives the combined optical signal. The sensor identifies, for each of the modulated laser signals, a respective laser signal via the identifiable modulation of the respective modulated laser signal.

Abstract: A method and system provide for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device. The system may have a plurality of laser signals and a plurality of identifiable modulation signals. A respective laser signal of the plurality of laser signals is combined with a respective identifiable modulation signal of the plurality of identifiable modulation signals so that each of the laser signals is identifiable. A combined optical signal is then formed from the modulated laser signals. A sensor has an input port that receives the combined optical signal. The sensor identifies, for each of the modulated laser signals, a respective laser signal via the identifiable modulation of the respective modulated laser signal.

Abstract: A method and system provide for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device. The system may have a plurality of laser signals and a plurality of identifiable modulation signals. A respective laser signal of the plurality of laser signals is combined with a respective identifiable modulation signal of the plurality of identifiable modulation signals so that each of the laser signals is identifiable. A combined optical signal is then formed from the modulated laser signals. A sensor has an input port that receives the combined optical signal. The sensor identifies, for each of the modulated laser signals, a respective laser signal via the identifiable modulation of the respective modulated laser signal.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a plurality of optical channels, each of which passes a single optical wavelength signal. Each of the plurality of optical channels includes an optical amplifier which is controlled to operate at a predetermined output power level independent of channel wavelength and input power level by operating each optical amplifier in a saturation mode. Pumping power for operating each optical amplifier in the saturation mode is supplied from shared optical pumps or a plurality of one per channel optical pumps.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a plurality of optical channels, each of which passes a single optical wavelength signal. Each of the plurality of optical channels includes an optical amplifier which is controlled to operate at a predetermined output power level independent of channel wavelength and input power level by operating each optical amplifier in a saturation mode. Pumping power for operating each optical amplifier in the saturation mode is supplied from shared optical pumps or a plurality of one per channel optical pumps.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a plurality of optical channels, each of which passes a single optical wavelength signal. Each of the plurality of optical channels includes an optical amplifier which is controlled to operate at a predetermined output power level independent of channel wavelength and input power level by operating each optical amplifier in a saturation mode. Pumping power for operating each optical amplifier in the saturation mode is supplied from shared optical pumps or a plurality of one per channel optical pumps.

Abstract: A method and system provide for sensing multiple wavelengths simultaneously in a single wavelength sensing device. The system may have a plurality of laser signals and a plurality of identifiable modulation signals. A respective laser signal of the plurality of laser signals is combined with a respective identifiable modulation signal of the plurality of identifiable modulation signals so that each of the laser signals is identifiable. A combined optical signal is then formed from the modulated laser signals. A sensor has an input port that receives the combined optical signal. The sensor identifies, for each of the modulated laser signals, a respective laser signal via the identifiable modulation of the respective modulated laser signal.

Abstract: A dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) filter includes an optical fiber coupling device, having at least one multiple core optical fiber fusion coupled to a second optical fiber, and a dual core fiber grating. According to an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, two multiple core fibers are used with each multiple core fiber having a first core with a first effective index of refraction and a first propagation constant and a second core with a second effective index of refraction and a second propagation constant. Such an arrangement ensures a close match in effective index and propagation constant between the respective second cores.

Abstract: A dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) filter includes an optical fiber coupling device, having at least one multiple core optical fiber fusion coupled to a second optical fiber, and a dual core fiber grating. According to an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, two multiple core fibers are used with each multiple core fiber having a first core with a first effective index of refraction and a first propagation constant and a second core with a second effective index of refraction and a second propagation constant. Such an arrangement ensures a close match in effective index and propagation constant between the respective second cores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing an optical wavelength-routing network in which each network node is a dynamic add-drop multiplexer (OADM) with minimized spectral filtering effect on pass-through channels and survivability upon power failure. By using cascaded tunable reflection filters as the building blocks, strictly add-drop non-blocking OADMs for single input/output fibers, double input/output fibers, and 3 input/output fibers can be constructed for application to unidirectional and bidirectional ring networks and mesh networks of arbitrary degree. Methods and apparatus for minimizing various types of out-of-band and in-band crosstalk occurring within the dynamic OADMs are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing an optical wavelength-routing network in which each network node is a dynamic add-drop multiplexer (OADM) with minimized spectral filtering effect on pass-through channels and survivability upon power failure. By using cascaded tunable reflection filters as the building blocks, strictly add-drop non-blocking OADMs for single input/output fibers, double input/output fibers, and 3 input/output fibers can be constructed for application to unidirectional and bidirectional ring networks and mesh networks of arbitrary degree. Methods and apparatus for minimizing various types of out-of-band and in-band crosstalk occurring within the dynamic OADMs are also described.

Abstract: A fault detecting apparatus and method for a network node of an optical transmission system receives a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal which includes a group of optical channels. The network node includes an optical demultiplexer, optical switch, optical multiplexer, and an optical channel add/drop device. Supervisory optical signals having a different wavelength than the wavelengths of the group of optical channels are generated and spliced with each optical channel by the optical demultiplexer. The supervisory channel optical power is tapped off at various points in the network node, such as the output optical channels of the demultiplexer, dropped optical channel outputs, output optical channels from the optical switch, and the output WDM optical signal of the multiplexer. The supervisory channels are monitored by a wavemeter for bypass lightpaths and dropped lightpaths.