Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated band splitter for scaling a dual band Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM). A degree in a ROADM includes ROADM components including a line port and a plurality of connection ports; channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components including degree ports and local add/drop ports; and one or more band splitters in between the ROADM components and the channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components. The band splitter can be configured to split/combine C-band spectrum and L-band spectrum. The band splitter can be a passive fiber device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a system-level Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) optical amplifier efficiency metric. The efficiency metric is a single metric that summarizes optical amplifier behavior and has a predictable behavior over various different optical amplifier settings. Specifically, the efficiency metric is simple and elegant. The simplicity is based on the fact the efficiency metric is determined from available data in an optical amplifier, not requiring external monitoring equipment, dithering, etc. The elegance is based on the fact the efficiency metric covers different optical amplifier settings, multiple pumps, etc. and is shown to reflect degradation with these differences in real-world systems accurately. Specifically, the efficiency metric is designed to reflect health in a multiple pump optical amplifier, providing a single value that represents the total pump currents across all of the multiple pumps.

Abstract: A system includes a first communication device and a second communication device in communication with the first communication device via an Ethernet connection. The first communication device is configured to transmit, via the Ethernet connection toward the second communication device, an Ethernet signal including information of a designated wavelength from a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) scheme to be used by the second communication device. The second communication device is configured to transmit an optical signal at the designated wavelength to the first communication device in response to receiving the Ethernet signal.

Abstract: A cascaded optical amplifier including a first optical amplifier and a second optical amplifier in cascaded arrangement is provided. Each of the first optical amplifier and the second optical amplifier has a respective input for receiving an optical signal, an output for outputting an amplified optical signal, and a control input for controlling the gain of the optical amplifier. The cascaded optical amplifier includes a sensor for sensing upstream of the input of the second optical amplier a signal relating to operation of the cascaded optical amplifier. In addition, the cascaded optical amplifier includes a controller for providing control signals to the respective control inputs of the first amplifier and the second amplifier, the controller providing the control signal to the second optical amplifier as a function of the sensed signal.

Abstract: A cascaded optical amplifier including a first optical amplifier and a second optical amplifier in cascaded arrangement is provided. Each of the first optical amplifier and the second optical amplifier has a respective input for receiving an optical signal, an output for outputting an amplified optical signal, and a control input for controlling the gain of the optical amplifier. The cascaded optical amplifier includes a sensor for sensing upstream of the input of the second optical amplier a signal relating to operation of the cascaded optical amplifier. In addition, the cascaded optical amplifier includes a controller for providing control signals to the respective control inputs of the first amplifier and the second amplifier, the controller providing the control signal to the second optical amplifier as a function of the sensed signal.

Abstract: To support interleaving of optical channels and to provide sufficient isolation between such interleaved channels, a circulator (60-62) receives, on an optical fiber (16-18), a broadband signal containing a plurality of adjacent channels. The circulator selectively routes the broadband signal through a filter (64, 66) to isolate, on an individual basis, at least one desired channel. A filtered signal, corresponding to the at least one desired channel, is then output from the filter (64-66) and reflected back into the filter by a mirror (68-70) such that the at least one desired channel is subjected to a second filtering process that further improves isolation of the at least one desired channel. Following this second filtering process, the at least one desired channel is applied to the circulator (60-62) for re-inserting into the optical fiber (16-18), as illustrated in FIG. 6.