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 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.

Abstract: According to the present invention modular optical amplifier assembly, comprises at least one first module and at least one second module. The first and second modules are optically connected to one another. The first module is an Optical Power Supply module. The first module comprises an optical circuit including: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) at least a one light source having a first wavelength known to cause amplification in rare earth doped optical fiber located between the optical ports; (iii) at least one bidirectional light combiner/separator optically coupled to the light source, and (iv) at least one position for a directional optical attenuator, located between the two optical ports. The second module is an amplification module. The second module comprises an optical circuit including (i) at least two optical ports, and (ii) at least one amplification medium.

Abstract: A method of assembling an optical amplifier comprises the steps of: (i) selecting a plurality of modules required in the optical amplifier; the plurality of modules being selected from at least types: Optical power supply module, Amplification module and at least one additional module; and (ii) assembling the modules into the optical amplifier.

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 the present invention an optical processing module includes an optical circuit. This optical circuit includes: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) at least one light filter situated between said two ports, and (iii) at least one position for at least one additional optical component, which when placed in said position, would be connected to said at least one light filter.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an optical monitoring and access module comprises an optical circuit including: (i) at least two optical ports, (ii) a first optical tap, (iii) at least one optical sensor optically coupled to said first optical tap; and (iv) at least one position for at least one additional optical component, which when placed in said position, would be connected to said first optical tap.

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: The optical amplifier includes a first gain medium having an optical host that contains a rare earth dopant and a first pump that supplies optical energy at a first wavelength into this first gain medium. The first pump operates at a pump wavelength that has a lower inversion saturation than the highest wavelength of absorption of the first gain medium. The optical amplifier further comprises a second gain medium operatively coupled to the first gain medium and a second pump that supplies optical energy into the second gain medium.

Abstract: High output power, high gain, and low noise are achieved in a two-stage optical amplifier, suitable for use as a repeater for a long haul lightwave communication system, in accordance with the principles of the invention, by employing a first amplifying stage having a signal gain sufficiently small to prevent self-saturation by amplified stimulated emission (ASE) that uses counter-propagating pump light to cause maximum inversion of the first stage amplifying medium. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, EDFAs are used in each of two amplifying stages. The length of the EDFA in the first stage is short enough to ensure nearly complete inversion of the EDFA from pump light that counter-propagates with the signal. The counter-propagating pump light allows the invention to advantageously avoid the significant noise figure penalty from the input loss associated with co-propagating pump light.

Abstract: An optical fibre amplifier comprises a thulium-doped optical fibre pumped at 790 nm by a semi-conductor diode laser coupled to the fibre via optical fibre coupler. The amplifier is optically coupled in series to a pair of systems fibres to provide amplification to optical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of mitigating gain peaking in a chain of fiber amplifiers by pumping the amplifiers at a predetermined wavelength to produce gain over a specified wavelength range.

Abstract: In an embodiment for obtaining accurate noise figure measurements for any degree of saturation of an optical amplifier, a polarizer is located at the output of the optical amplifier. The amplified spontaneous noise (ASE) produced by an optical amplifier is not polarized, whereas the amplified signal has a well defined state of polarization which is preferably linear. If the amplified signal is not linearly polarized, it can be rendered linearly polarized in one direction by means of a polarization controller located downstream of the polarizer. By setting the polarizer to have its state of polarization orthogonal to that of the linearly polarized amplified signal, the spectral density of the ASE from the polarizer can be measured without associated distortion due to the signal. By sequentially adjusting the polarization controller to minimize and then maximize the signal which it passes, sequential measurements of the ASE spectral density and gain of the optical amplifier can be obtained.