Abstract: A wavelength reference device includes a broadband optical source, a repeating filter, and a wavelength-specific filter. The source, which can be a super-luminescent light-emitting diode (SLED), emits optical power. The repeating filter, which can be a Fabray-Perot etalon, filters the optical power into a repeating spectral response, and the wavelength-specific filter attenuates the optical power of at least one predefined wavelength response within the wavelength band. The repeating filter and the wavelength-specific filter output a wavelength reference signal having the repeating spectral response attenuated at the at least one predefined wavelength response. The predefined wavelength response reduces the ambiguity that can occur in the repeating frequency locations found in the repeating spectral response. In this way, an absolute wavelength reference is intrinsically provided in the wavelength reference that removes the location ambiguity caused by the repeating spectral response.

Abstract: Systems may include a broadband light source device, which may include at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an electrical control signal for operating a component of a plurality of components of a spectrum control device of the broadband light source device, determine which component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device to operate based on the electrical control signal, and operate a first component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device based on determining to operate the first component. Methods and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wavelength reference (WLREF) includes a number of individual spectral band sources, each of which outputs a different spectral band than each other spectral band source. One or more combiners combine the different spectral bands into a WLREF broadband optical signal that is output to an optical channel monitor (OCM) which compares at least one broadband optical signals that also includes different spectral bands, sampled by the OCM from at least one transmission optical fiber to the WLREF broadband optical signal, determines from the comparison if one or more parameters of the at least one broadband optical signal sampled from the transmission optical fiber is/are operating outside of a predetermined tolerance or range, and, if so, causes the one or more parameters of the broadband optical signal to be adjusted whereupon the broadband optical signal is operating within the predetermined tolerance or range.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device includes a broadband optical source, a repeating filter, and a wavelength-specific filter. The source, which can be a super-luminescent light-emitting diode (SLED), emits optical power. The repeating filter, which can be a Fabray-Perot etalon, filters the optical power into a repeating spectral response, and the wavelength-specific filter attenuates the optical power of at least one predefined wavelength response within the wavelength band. The repeating filter and the wavelength-specific filter output a wavelength reference signal having the repeating spectral response attenuated at the at least one predefined wavelength response. The predefined wavelength response reduces the ambiguity that can occur in the repeating frequency locations found in the repeating spectral response. In this way, an absolute wavelength reference is intrinsically provided in the wavelength reference that removes the location ambiguity caused by the repeating spectral response.

Abstract: Systems may include a broadband light source device, which may include at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an electrical control signal for operating a component of a plurality of components of a spectrum control device of the broadband light source device, determine which component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device to operate based on the electrical control signal, and operate a first component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device based on determining to operate the first component. Methods and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems for recovery of transport system faults may include at least one processor programmed or configured to identify a presence of a reduction of power in an optical transmission band of a plurality of optical transmission bands of an optical communications network, determine a cause of the reduction of power in the optical transmission band based on identifying the presence of the reduction of power in the optical transmission band, and perform an action to rectify the reduction of power in the optical transmission band using an optical communications light source. Methods and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device, including a tunable optical filter or tunable optical filter with photodiode, uses voltage differentials to filter an optical signal passing along an optical path. A membrane has an electrode and is disposed adjacent a fixed mirror and another. A central portion of the membrane is distanced from the fixed mirror and has an aperture in which a second mirror is disposed. This second mirror translates with the membrane at a freespace gap relative to the fixed mirror when the electrodes are subject to the voltage differentials. In turn, the freespace gap is configured as a Fabry-Perot etalon to pass one or more spectral frequencies of the optical signal along the optical path. The membrane is shaped and reinforced to limit possible bowing. The translatable mirror in the aperture of the membrane is also shaped and reinforced to limit it from possible bowing as well.

Abstract: Systems may include a broadband light source device, which may include at least one processor programmed or configured to receive an electrical control signal for operating a component of a plurality of components of a spectrum control device of the broadband light source device, determine which component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device to operate based on the electrical control signal, and operate a first component of the plurality of components of the spectrum control device based on determining to operate the first component. Methods and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical channel monitor is formed to include the capability to sense real-time changes in optical power across signal bands (optical power changes including, for example, a complete drop out of the signal band) and quickly measure the resulting spectrum, thus enabling the host to initiate advanced power balancing solutions that mitigate the extent of the power change until a permanent fix is provided. A set of signal band sensors is included with a conventional OCM, where each sensor includes a photodetector that is able to detect changes in operation along its associated incoming signal band. Control electronics are used to monitor the states of the photodetectors, with the ability to invoke an OCM scan of the complete wavelength range when a power change condition is flagged.

Abstract: An optical channel monitor is formed to include the capability to sense real-time changes in optical power across signal bands (optical power changes including, for example, a complete drop out of the signal band) and quickly measure the resulting spectrum, thus enabling the host to initiate advanced power balancing solutions that mitigate the extent of the power change until a permanent fix is provided. A set of signal band sensors is included with a conventional OCM, where each sensor includes a photodetector that is able to detect changes in operation along its associated incoming signal band. Control electronics are used to monitor the states of the photodetectors, with the ability to invoke an OCM scan of the complete wavelength range when a power change condition is flagged.

Abstract: A wavelength reference device includes a broadband optical source, a repeating filter, and a wavelength-specific filter. The source, which can be a super-luminescent light-emitting diode (SLED), emits optical power. The repeating filter, which can be a Fabray-Perot etalon, filters the optical power into a repeating spectral response, and the wavelength-specific filter attenuates the optical power of at least one predefined wavelength response within the wavelength band. The repeating filter and the wavelength-specific filter output a wavelength reference signal having the repeating spectral response attenuated at the at least one predefined wavelength response. The predefined wavelength response reduces the ambiguity that can occur in the repeating frequency locations found in the repeating spectral response. In this way, an absolute wavelength reference is intrinsically provided in the wavelength reference that removes the location ambiguity caused by the repeating spectral response.

Abstract: An optical spectrum monitor includes a tunable optical detector that receives optical channel monitoring signals from an optical channel and receives a control signal that selects a frequency of an optical channel monitoring signal for detection. The tunable optical detector detects the optical channel monitoring signal selected by the control signal and generates an electrical signal related to a power of the detected optical channel monitoring signal. A processor analyzes a plurality of differences between selected optical channel monitoring frequencies and their corresponding ITU frequencies and then generates the control signal at the output that corrects for at least one of systematic band offset and systematic band tilt in the optical channel monitoring frequency.

Abstract: An optical spectrum monitor includes a tunable optical detector that receives optical channel monitoring signals from an optical channel and receives a control signal that selects a frequency of an optical channel monitoring signal for detection. The tunable optical detector detects the optical channel monitoring signal selected by the control signal and generates an electrical signal related to a power of the detected optical channel monitoring signal. A processor analyzes a plurality of differences between selected optical channel monitoring frequencies and their corresponding ITU frequencies and then generates the control signal at the output that corrects for at least one of systematic band offset and systematic band tilt in the optical channel monitoring frequency.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter component to compensate for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of wavelength and operating temperature. The optical filter component includes a first optical filter having an athermalized transmission spectrum and a second optical filter having a transmission (or insertion loss) spectrum that varies as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of providing a predetermined insertion loss in an optical fiber amplifier, includes the step of utilizing a predetermined, fixed, spectrally-flat loss compound (insertion loss pad, ILP) to pad total optical fiber amplifier insertion loss up to a predetermined fixed level.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter component to compensate for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of wavelength and operating temperature. The optical filter component includes a first optical filter having an athermalized transmission spectrum and a second optical filter having a transmission (of insertion loss) spectrum that varies as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of providing a predetermined insertion loss in an optical fiber amplifier,includes the step of utilizing a predetermined, fixed, spectrally-flat loss compound (insertion loss pad, ILP) to pad total optical fiber amplifier insertion loss up to a predetermined fixed level.