Abstract: A reconfigurable optical device including input and output ports, and add or drop ports, has a high degree of flexibility such that any wavelength channel from any optical signal introduced through the add ports may be added to any of the optical signals transmitted through the output ports. In addition, any wavelength channel from any optical signal received through the inputs ports may be dropped through any of the drop ports. Furthermore, the optical device is configurable to allow the same wavelength channel from two different optical signals supplied respectively through any two inputs ports to be simultaneously directed to two different drop ports.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical device including input and output ports, and add or drop ports, has a high degree of flexibility such that any wavelength channel from any optical signal introduced through the add ports may be added to any of the optical signals transmitted through the output ports. In addition, any wavelength channel from any optical signal received through the inputs ports may be dropped through any of the drop ports. Furthermore, the optical device is configurable to allow the same wavelength channel from two different optical signals supplied respectively through any two inputs ports to be simultaneously directed to two different drop ports.

Abstract: A light detector measures optical power of light incident thereon. Using a beam steering device that is rotatable about two orthogonal axes, wavelength components of different channels are scanned onto the light detector in accordance with programmable parameters. The programmable parameters specify the light detector to which the wavelength components are directed, the order the wavelength components are monitored by the light detector, and the time duration over which each of the wavelength components is monitored by the light detector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical device assembly is provided. The optical device includes a housing with a moisture-resistant sealed cylindrical cavity in which first and second optical surfaces are optically coupled, the first optical surface being disposed on a first optical element that is within a first end of the cylindrical cavity and the second optical surface being disposed on a second optical element that is within a second end of the cylindrical cavity that is opposite the first end.

Abstract: In one aspect, an etalon assembly is provided. The etalon assembly includes an inner housing having a collimating lens and an etalon. The etalon assembly further includes a fiber pigtail assembly optically aligned with respect to the collimating lens and affixed to the inner housing. Additionally, the etalon assembly includes an outer glass housing with an inner cavity, the inner housing being affixed to a first end of the outer glass housing and a glass header containing one or more sealed electrical pins being affixed to a second end of the outer glass housing that is opposite the first end.

Abstract: A tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) is tuned from a first dispersion setpoint to a second dispersion setpoint while maintaining continuity of the dispersion. The dispersion tuning follows a pre-determined trajectory in the time domain, so that continuity of the optical dispersion across the channel optical bandwidth is maintained while minimizing all other TDC-induced optical impairments during a tuning period.

Abstract: A photodiode (PD) array accurately measures incident optical power on each of the PDs in the array by eliminating the effect of crosstalk between the individual PDs. Crosstalk within the PD array is removed by measuring the current generated by each PD in the array and generating a corrected optical power value for each PD that is based on the measured current for each PD and on coupling coefficients associated with other PDs in the array. The coupling coefficients are determined during a previous calibration procedure.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical device including input and output ports, and add or drop ports, has a high degree of flexibility such that any wavelength channel from any optical signal introduced through the add ports may be added to any of the optical signals transmitted through the output ports. In addition, any wavelength channel from any optical signal received through the inputs ports may be dropped through any of the drop ports. Furthermore, the optical device is configurable to allow the same wavelength channel from two different optical signals supplied respectively through any two inputs ports to be simultaneously directed to two different drop ports.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the operation of optical network equipment such as optical amplifiers. In one aspect, a method of operating an optical amplifier is provided such that output of the optical amplifier avoids the effects of operating an optical gain medium in a non-linear (kink) region of an L-I curve. The method generally includes operating an optical gain medium in a fully off state or fully on state above the kink region with a PWM signal. In another aspect, the effects of the kink region may be compensated for by utilizing a lookup table. A sample of the optical power of an amplified optical signal may be used to select an entry in the lookup table that compensates for non-linearities in the kink region. In yet a further aspect, a lookup table may be used to control a pulse modulator to compensate for non-linearites in the kink region of the L-I curve.

Abstract: A light detector measures optical power of light incident thereon. Using a beam steering device that is rotatable about two orthogonal axes, wavelength components of different channels are scanned onto the light detector in accordance with programmable parameters. The programmable parameters specify the light detector to which the wavelength components are directed, the order the wavelength components are monitored by the light detector, and the time duration over which each of the wavelength components is monitored by the light detector.

Abstract: A tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) is tuned from a first dispersion setpoint to a second dispersion setpoint while maintaining continuity of the dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the operation of optical network equipment such as optical amplifiers. In one aspect, a method of operating an optical amplifier is provided such that output of the optical amplifier avoids the effects of operating an optical gain medium in a non-linear (kink) region of an L-I curve. The method generally includes operating an optical gain medium in a fully off state or fully on state above the kink region with a PWM signal. In another aspect, the effects of the kink region may be compensated for by utilizing a lookup table. A sample of the optical power of an amplified optical signal may be used to select an entry in the lookup table that compensates for non-linearities in the kink region. In yet a further aspect, a lookup table may be used to control a pulse modulator to compensate for non-linearites in the kink region of the L-I curve.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the operation of optical network equipment such as optical amplifiers. In one aspect, a method of operating an optical amplifier is provided such that output of the optical amplifier avoids the effects of operating an optical gain medium in a non-linear (kink) region of an L-I curve. The method generally includes operating an optical gain medium in a fully off state or fully on state above the kink region with a PWM signal. In another aspect, the effects of the kink region may be compensated for by utilizing a lookup table. A sample of the optical power of an amplified optical signal may be used to select an entry in the lookup table that compensates for non-linearities in the kink region. In yet a further aspect, a lookup table may be used to control a pulse modulator to compensate for non-linearites in the kink region of the L-I curve.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the operation of optical network equipment such as optical amplifiers. In one aspect, a method of operating an optical amplifier is provided such that output of the optical amplifier avoids the effects of operating an optical gain medium in a non-linear (kink) region of an L-I curve. The method generally includes operating an optical gain medium in a fully off state or fully on state above the kink region with a PWM signal. In another aspect, the effects of the kink region may be compensated for by utilizing a lookup table. A sample of the optical power of an amplified optical signal may be used to select an entry in the lookup table that compensates for non-linearities in the kink region. In yet a further aspect, a lookup table may be used to control a pulse modulator to compensate for non-linearites in the kink region of the L-I curve.

Abstract: An optical amplifier assembly comprises a Customer Interface module and a plurality of other amplifier modules. The Customer Interface module includes: (i) a customer interface configured to interact with other devices and (ii) optical and electrical connectors, connecting at least one of the other optical amplifier modules to the customer interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention an amplification module comprises a housing containing a plurality of optical ports. This housing: (i) at least partially encloses at least one amplification medium, (ii) provides at least one position for at least one optical filter, and (iii) includes a first optical port configured to provide both signal and pump light to the amplification module. According to an embodiment of the present invention the amplification module does not include a WDM for multiplexing pump light and signal light.

Abstract: A device for removing heat from a fiber-optic package having at least one optical element includes a terminated fiber for diverting excess optical power away from the optical element and an energy dissipating element having a capability to absorb the optical power from the terminated fiber and a high thermal conductivity sufficient to distribute heat generated from absorption of the optical power.

Abstract: A telemetry add/drop module includes an optical circuit. This optical circuit includes (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) at least one bidirectional light combiner/separator; and (iii) a position for another bidirectional light combiner/separator. Alternatively, the optical circuit includes (i) at least two optical ports, and (ii) at least two bidirectional light combiner/separators. According to one embodiment of the present invention at least one of these bidirectional light combiner/separators is a wavelength division multiplexer.

Abstract: According to the present invention an optical amplifier assembly comprises a plurality of optical amplifier modules. Each of these modules is being suitable for a specific intended use and provides at least one specific function, wherein at least one of the modules is marked according to its intended use.

Abstract: An Optical Power Supply module is configured to be engageable in optical communication to an optical device. This Optical Power Supply module comprises: an optical circuit including (i) at least one input port configured to receive an optical signal; (ii) an optical circuit connected to the input port and including (a) at least a one light source providing optical pump power at a first wavelength, the wavelength known to cause amplification in rare earth doped optical fiber; (b) at least one bi-directional light combiner/separator combining the optical pump power and the optical signal; and (c) at least one position for a directional optical attenuator; (iii) at least one output port connected to the optical circuit and configured to transmit the optical signal and the optical pump power at the first wavelength to the optical device.