Abstract: An optical wavelength router receives multiplexed bundles of wavelength channels from input optical fibers, processes the channels, and outputs the processed channels onto output optical fibers. The router separates one or more of the channels from the received bundles and couples the separated channels into a switching fabric. The remaining, i.e., pass-through, channels are multiplexed with wavelength-converted “add” signals and input into channel combiners. The outputs of the switching fabric may be “dropped,” or coupled to the channel combiners for multiplexing with the pass-through and the add channels. A second switching fabric may be interposed between the output ports of the channel combiners and the output fibers, and a redundant path through the router may be included for path fault protection.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for housing a linearized optical fiber amplifier (LOFA) circuit. The apparatus includes a body member, preferably made of foam plastic material, that defines cavities to receive the components of the LOFA circuit including a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) reel. The apparatus includes opposing arcuate members about which optical fibers coupling components of the LOFA circuit are looped. Retaining rings fitted over the first and second arcuate members and supported by at least one surface defined in the body member, can be used to separate each optical fiber from others to provide organization and to prevent entanglement of the optical fibers. A reel receptacle member receives and holds an active fiber (AF) reel of the LOFA circuit. The reel receptacle member can be placed between the arcuate members to be held therebetween.

Abstract: Variations in bending loss for relatively small radii bends along a length of optical fiber (26) are determined by using an optical time domain reflectometer (20) to measure the backscattering power as a function of distance along the fiber in one direction along the length of fiber by launching light energy into one end of the fiber. Then the backscattering power is measured as a function of distance along the fiber in the opposite direction from an opposite end by launching light energy into an opposite end of the fiber. Mathematical representations of backscattering forward and reverse signals for corresponding points along the length of the fiber are added to provide a quantity which is related to mode field diameter of the fiber. Variations in the mode field diameter are indicative of variations in the bending loss along the length of fiber. By measuring the bending loss at the end points of the length of fiber, the absolute bending loss along the length of fiber can be estimated from the above quantity.