Abstract: An optical transmission system in which a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical signal including a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths is demultiplexed into first optical signals and second optical signals. The second optical signals have wavelengths longer than wavelengths of the first optical signals. A first dispersion compensator compensates dispersion of the first optical signals. A second dispersion compensator compensates dispersion of the second optical signals. The dispersion compensated first and second optical signals are then multiplied together.

Abstract: An optical transmitting device which combines a plurality of signal lights, each having a different, corresponding, frequency, into a wavelength division multiplexed signal light. The frequencies are spaced apart from each other in a manner with eliminates the effects of four-wave mixing (FWM). More specifically, the difference in frequencies of any pair-combination of the signal lights is different from the difference in frequencies between any other pair-combination of the signal lights. Moreover, the plurality of signal lights include n signal lights having respectively corresponding frequencies f1 through fn arranged in order from f1 to fn along a frequency spectrum, where frequencies f1 through fn−1 have respectively corresponding integer spacing coefficients m1 through mn−1, and frequencies fi and fi+1 are separated by mi·&Dgr;fS−F, where i=1 to (n−1) and &Dgr;fS−F is a unit of spacing between frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical cross connect unit comprising M wavelength separating sections for receiving multiplexed optical signals each having N kinds of wavelengths different from each other through M optical fibers, respectively, and for wavelength-separating each of the multiplexed optical signals into N optical signals, M optical reproduction relay sections each for conducting an optical reproduction and relay in a manner of making a conversion of each of the N optical signals, wavelength-separated in each of the wavelength separating sections, into an electric signal and then modulating it with a desired optical wavelength, a refill section for mutually refilling M sets of optical signals optically reproduced and relayed in the optical reproduction relay sections, a focusing section for focusing the M sets of optical signals refilled in the refill section, and a light source unit for supplying input lights having desired wavelengths to be modulated in the M optical reproduction relay se

Abstract: In an OADM system, an OADM device includes an AOTF. The AOTF can select an optional wavelength by changing the frequency of an RF signal to be applied. An optical signal having a specified wavelength can be dropped from a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal input from an input terminal, or a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal input from an add port can be multiplexed with a through optical signal. However, considering the increase in coherent cross talk, the AOTF should be exclusively used for dropping in an actual device configuration. Otherwise, a drop optical signal is branched by an optical coupler with the wavelength selected by a tributary station. Thus, the wavelength selected by the tributary station can be extracted by the AOTF from the through optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus which attenuates a light signal polarized in a first direction. The apparatus includes a polarization rotation unit and an output unit. The polarization rotation unit rotates the polarization of the light signal to produce a polarization rotated light signal having a polarization component in the first direction and a polarization component in a second direction which is substantially 90 degrees with respect to the first direction. The output unit passes, as an output signal, the polarization component in the second direction of the polarization rotated light signal and blocks the polarization component in the first direction. The polarization rotation unit includes an electromagnet and a permanent magnet which apply magnetic fields in specific directions with respect to the light path. Various yoke constructions are provided for the electromagnet and the permanent magnet.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for amplifying light in a longer wavelength band. The optical amplifier includes first and second optical fibers doped with a rare earth element and optically connected so that a signal light travels through the first optical fiber and then through the second optical fiber. Excitation light causes the signal light to be amplified in both the first and second optical fibers. Spontaneous emission lights are generated in the first optical fiber. An oscillation generator causes the spontaneous emission lights to oscillate in the first optical fiber, to thereby generate laser oscillation. Light generated by the laser oscillation is supplied to the second optical fiber as excitation light in the second optical fiber. The oscillation generator can be formed by fiber gratings along the first optical fiber and which reflect spontaneous emission light at a predetermined wavelength, thereby causing spontaneous emission lights to oscillate between the fiber gratings in the first optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus which attenuates a light signal polarized in a first direction. The apparatus includes a polarization rotation unit and an output unit. The polarization rotation unit rotates the polarization of the light signal to produce a polarization rotated light signal having a polarization component in the first direction and a polarization component in a second direction which is substantially 90 degrees with respect to the first direction. The output unit passes, as an output signal, the polarization component in the second direction of the polarization rotated light signal and blocks the polarization component in the first direction. The polarization rotation unit includes an electromagnet and a permanent magnet which apply magnetic fields in specific directions with respect to the light path. Various yoke constructions are provided for the electromagnet and the permanent magnet.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;0 of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;0 of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for amplifying light in a longer wavelength band. The optical amplifier includes first and second optical fibers doped with a rare earth element and optically connected so that a signal light travels through the first optical fiber and then through the second optical fiber. Excitation light causes the signal light to be amplified in both the first and second optical fibers. Spontaneous emission lights are generated in the first optical fiber. An oscillation generator causes the spontaneous emission lights to oscillate in the first optical fiber, to thereby generate laser oscillation. Light generated by the laser oscillation is supplied to the second optical fiber as excitation light in the second optical fiber. The oscillation generator can be formed by fiber gratings along the first optical fiber and which reflect spontaneous emission light at a predetermined wavelength, thereby causing spontaneous emission lights to oscillate between the fiber gratings in the first optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical cross connect unit comprising M wavelength separating sections for receiving multiplexed optical signals each having N kinds of wavelengths different from each other through M optical fibers, respectively, and for wavelength-separating each of the multiplexed optical signals into N optical signals, M optical reproduction relay sections each for conducting an optical reproduction and relay in a manner of making a conversion of each of the N optical signals, wavelength-separated in each of the wavelength separating sections, into an electric signal and then modulating it with a desired optical wavelength, a refill section for mutually refilling M sets of optical signals optically reproduced and relayed in the optical reproduction relay sections, a focusing section for focusing the M sets of optical signals refilled in the refill section, and a light source unit for supplying input lights having desired wavelengths to be modulated in the M optical reproduction relay se

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;0 of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: An optical amplifier which suppresses the occurrence of a nonlinear optical phenomena, such as four-wave mixing. The optical amplifier includes an optical fiber doped with a rare earth element, and a light source providing excitation light to the fiber so that a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light is amplified as the WDM light travels through the fiber from a first point to a second point along the fiber. A third point exists along the fiber between the first and second points at which a power of the WDM light substantially reaches a level producing a nonlinear optical phenomenal. A first portion of the fiber is between the first point and the third point, and a second portion of the fiber is between the third point and the second point. The second portion suppresses the occurrence of the nonlinear optical phenomena as compared to the first portion. The second portion can have various different constructions to provide the required suppression effect.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;0 of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;0 of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical wavelength multiplex transmission method wherein a band in the proximity of a zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fiber is used and optical signals are disposed at efficient channel spacings taking an influence of the band, the wavelength dispersion and the four wave mixing into consideration to realize an optical communication system of an increased capacity which is not influenced by crosstalk by FWM. When optical signals of a plurality of channels having different wavelengths are to be multiplexed and transmitted using an optical fiber, a four wave mixing suppressing guard band of a predetermined bandwidth including the zero-dispersion wavelength &lgr;&thgr; of the optical fiber is set, and signal light waves of the plurality of channels to be multiplexed are arranged on one of the shorter wavelength side and the longer wavelength side outside the guard band.

Abstract: A computer-controlled optical amplifying apparatus, which includes an optical amplifying unit including an optical amplifying medium and an optical amplifying control unit controlling the optical amplifying unit under the control of a computer. This optical amplifying control unit is constituted by a status monitoring unit for monitoring the status, an optical output control unit for controlling the optical amplifying unit in accordance with the result of monitoring of status; and a status restoring unit for initializing the control status of the optical output control unit by initializing the computer when detecting an occurrence of the abnormal status by the result of monitoring of status and restoring the optical output control unit to the control status before occurrence of the related abnormal status within a relaxation time inherent in the optical amplifying medium occurring accompanied with this initialization.

Abstract: A device comprising an optical amplifier including an optical amplifying medium, and first and second optical filters operatively connected to the optical amplifier to suppress the wavelength dependence of gain. The medium has an input end and an output end for an optical signal. The medium is pumped so that it provides a gain band. The gain band includes a first band giving a relatively high gain and noise figure to the optical signal and a second band giving a relatively low gain and noise figure to the optical signal. The first optical filter is connected to the input end of the medium and has characteristics such that the first optical filter suppresses the wavelength dependence of gain in the second band. The second optical filter is connected to the output end of the medium and has characteristics such that the second optical filter suppresses the wavelength dependence of gain in the first band.

Abstract: An optical amplifier has an optical amplifying medium, a pump light source outputting pump light, and a first optical coupler for supplying the pump light to the optical amplifying medium. A probe light source outputs probe light having a wavelength included in an amplification band, a second optical coupler supplies the probe light to the optical amplifying medium, and detectors detect the powers of input signal light and the probe light, respectively. A control unit controls the power of the probe light according to outputs from the detectors. This structure makes it possible to provide an optical amplifier which can reduce the wavelength dependence of gain.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical device making use of a magneto-optical effect. The optical device comprises: a reflector for reflecting an input beam as a reflected beam; a magneto-optical crystal provided so as to pass the input and reflected beams; a first unit for applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical crystal; and a second unit for varying the magnetic field in accordance with a control signal. The configuration described above allows a small magneto-optical crystal to be used and, thus, a small-size and a low-cost Faraday rotator to be provided. By adding a polarizer to such a Faraday rotator, a variable optical attenuator can be obtained. In particular, by employing a wedge plate as the polarizer, a polarized-independent optical attenuator can be provided.