Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Stephens
Thomas D. Stephens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7903978Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention generally include an optical signal controller disposed along an optical link between two optical nodes. The optical signal controller is configured to provide a monitoring signal from an optical signal passing between the nodes as a plurality of wavelength sub-bands at least one of which includes a plurality of signal channels. The controller generates a compensating channel having an optical power that is a function of the monitoring signal power in the plurality of wavelength sub-bands or total power. The compensating channel is combined with the optical signal to compensate for power variations in the optical signal passing between the nodes. In addition, the compensating channels can be used to transmit communication or system supervisory information between monitoring points and/or nodes in the system.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Broadwing, LLCInventors: Thomas D. Stephens, Mark A. Kelty, Alistair J. Price
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Patent number: 7522334Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include first and second optical amplifiers that are operated individually to provide gain profiles that do not conform with a desired composite, or overall or total, gain profile, e.g., substantially flat, but to produce a desired composite noise figure profile, e.g., substantially flat or otherwise, for the amplifiers. Generally, the desired composite noise figure profile is produced, while attempting to minimize the deviation of the composite gain profile from the desired composite gain profile.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Corvis Equipment CorporationInventor: Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7343097Abstract: Optical transmission systems including a plurality of optical amplifiers configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least two of the optical amplifiers are operated to provide net losses or net gains along corresponding spans, while the cumulative gain provided by the plurality of optical amplifiers substantially compensates for the cumulative loss of the spans.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Broadwing CorporationInventors: David F. Smith, Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7339725Abstract: Optical transmission systems including a plurality of optical amplifiers configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least two of the optical amplifiers are operated to provide net losses or net gains along corresponding spans, while the cumulative gain provided by the plurality of optical amplifiers substantially compensates for the cumulative loss of the spans.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Broadwing CorporationInventors: David F. Smith, Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7215463Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical amplifiers configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least two of the optical amplifier are operated to provide net losses or net gains along corresponding spans, while the cumulative gain provided by the plurality of optical amplifiers substantially compensates for the cumulative loss of the spans.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2006Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: David F. Smith, Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7133193Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Donald M. Cornwell, Jr., John J. Veselka, Jr., Stephen G. Grubb, Thomas D. Stephens, Ruxiang Jin, Alistair J. Price, Michael C. Antone
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Patent number: 7088500Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention includes power sources that provide dedicated and shared power to a plurality of optical amplification sections. In various embodiments, multiple optical pump sources are provided the include a plurality of optical sources, which supply dedicated optical pump power and shared optical pump power to two or more optical amplification sections. In other embodiments, remote dispersion compensation is performed and Raman amplification is provided to overcome at least a portion of the loss.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Broadwing CorporationInventor: Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7085042Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least one optical amplifier is controlled based on an in situ performance characterization of the at least one optical amplifier and the transmission fiber. The in situ, or installed, performance characteristics of the optical amplifier can be characterized based on relative gain measurements over the signal wavelength range as a function of the supplied pump power. The installed characterization allows the optical amplifier performance and gain profiles to be tightly controlled over the signal wavelength range in the transmission system.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2005Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Thomas D. Stephens, Raymond Zanoni
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Patent number: 7046430Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via a plurality of signal varying devices. A first signal varying device includes an optical fiber configured to produce Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a first signal variation profile. A first pump source is configured provides sufficient pump power in a plurality of first pump wavelengths to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. A second signal varying device is provided having a second signal variation profile to produce a cumulative signal variation profile that differs from the first and second signal variation profiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 7010229Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier generally including an optical signal amplifying medium supplied with pump power in the form of optical energy in via an optical pump source. The pump source includes multiple optical sources, at least two of which provide optical energy in first and second wavelength ranges separated by a frequency difference. The amplifier includes a wavelength controller configured to adjust the wavelength range of at least one of the optical sources to vary the frequency difference in a manner sufficient to vary optical intensity noise produced when the optical energy from the multiple optical sources is combined.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: David J. Copeland, John J. Veselka, Jr., Donald M. Cornwell, Jr., Thomas D. Stephens, Dean M. Smith, Mark A. Laliberte
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Patent number: 6992815Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least one optical amplifier is controlled based on an in situ performance characterization of the at least one optical amplifier and the transmission fiber. The in situ, or installed, performance characteristics of the optical amplifier can be characterized based on relative gain measurements over the signal wavelength range as a function of the supplied pump power. The installed characterization allows the optical amplifier performance and gain profiles to be tightly controlled over the signal wavelength range in the transmission system.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Thomas D. Stephens, Raymond Zanoni
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Patent number: 6934473Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include an add/drop device and/or cross-connect device, which is reconfigurable to add and drop signal wavelengths between one or more transmission paths. The add/drop device includes a first selective element configurable to pass a first group of signal wavelengths including at least a first signal wavelength from an input path to a first add/drop path and pass continuing signal wavelengths differing from the first group of signal wavelength to a second add/drop path. A second selective element is provided that is configurable to pass a second group of signal wavelengths including at least a second signal wavelength from said first add/drop path and continuing signal wavelengths differing from the second group of wavelengths from said second add/drop path to an output path.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventor: Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 6934077Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention includes power sources that provide dedicated and shared power to a plurality of optical amplification sections. In various embodiments, multiple optical pump sources are provided the include a plurality of optical sources, which supply dedicated optical pump power and shared optical pump power to two or more optical amplification sections. In other embodiments, remote dispersion compensation is performed and Raman amplification is provided to overcome at least a portion of the loss.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Broadwing CorporationInventor: Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 6839522Abstract: Optical systems, device, and methods including signal varying devices, such as optical amplifiers, attenuators, and filters that have controllable gain, loss and transparent intensity profiles, and which can include and be responsive to one or more local and remote controllers.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
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Publication number: 20040264968Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Corvis CorporationInventors: Donald M. Cornwell, John J. Veselka, Stephen G. Grubb, Thomas D. Stephens, Ruxiang Jin, Alistair J. Price, Michael C. Antone
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Publication number: 20040253001Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier generally including an optical signal amplifying medium supplied with pump power in the form of optical energy in via an optical pump source. The pump source includes multiple optical sources, at least two of which provide optical energy in first and second wavelength ranges separated by a frequency difference. The amplifier includes a wavelength controller configured to adjust the wavelength range of at least one of the optical sources to vary the frequency difference in a manner sufficient to vary optical intensity noise produced when the optical energy from the multiple optical sources is combined.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: Corvis CorporationInventors: David J. Copeland, John J. Veselka, Donald M. Cornwell, Thomas D. Stephens, Dean M. Smith, Mark A. Laliberte
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Patent number: 6782209Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier generally including an optical signal amplifying medium supplied with pump power in the form of optical energy in via an optical pump source. The pump source includes multiple optical sources, at least two of which provide optical energy in first and second wavelength ranges separated by a frequency difference. The amplifier includes a wavelength controller configured to adjust the wavelength range of at least one of the optical sources to vary the frequency difference in a manner sufficient to vary optical intensity noise produced when the optical energy from the multiple optical sources is combined.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: David J. Copeland, John J. Veselka, Jr., Donald M. Cornwell, Jr., Thomas D. Stephens, Dean M. Smith, Mark A. Laliberte
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Publication number: 20040161237Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include an add/drop device and/or cross-connect device, which is reconfigurable to add and drop signal wavelengths between one or more transmission paths. The add/drop device includes a first selective element configurable to pass a first group of signal wavelengths including at least a first signal wavelength from an input path to a first add/drop path and pass continuing signal wavelengths differing from the first group of signal wavelength to a second add/drop path. A second selective element is provided that is configurable to pass a second group of signal wavelengths including at least a second signal wavelength from said first add/drop path and continuing signal wavelengths differing from the second group of wavelengths from said second add/drop path to an output path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: Corvis CorporationInventor: Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 6775056Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via a plurality of signal varying devices. A first signal varying device includes an optical fiber configured to produce Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a first signal variation profile. A first pump source is configured provides sufficient pump power in a plurality of first pump wavelengths to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. A second signal varying device is provided having a second signal variation profile to produce a cumulative signal variation profile that differs from the first and second signal variation profiles.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
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Patent number: 6771413Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Corvis CorporationInventors: Donald M. Cornwell, Jr., John J. Veselka, Jr., Stephen G. Grubb, Thomas D. Stephens, Ruxiang Jin, Alistair J Price, Michael C. Antone