Abstract: In an optical transmission system comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a transmission line that connects the transmitter and the receiver, a dispersion compensator is disposed in the receiver. The transmitter comprises an E/O (electro-optical signal converter) and a post-amplifier. An optical signal that has been RZ-coded is supplied to the E/O. The transmitter pre-chirps the optical signal. The pre-chirp is performed by red-chirp of which the value of the chirping parameter ? is positive. When the pre-chirp is performed, the non-linear effect of the optical signal on the transmission line can be canceled. In addition, with the RZ coded signal, the inter-symbol interference can be alleviated. Thus, the total dispersion amount of the dispersion compensator can be suppressed. In addition, the power of the optical output can be increased.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispersion management in hybrid data rate long haul mesh networks are provided. The apparatus comprises a dispersion compensator for fully compensating the residual dispersion of a fiber link in the mesh network. A de-interleaver is coupled to the dispersion compensator for de-interleaving odd and even channels of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals transmitted across the fiber link. A delay device is coupled to the de-interleaver for introducing a delay to the odd channels or the even channels of the WDM signals to decorrelate the odd and even channels and substantially reduce inter-channel cross-phase modulation.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system comprising: an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal, wherein the optical spectrum reshaper is adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a dispersion in a transmission fiber; and further including a transmission fiber coupled to the optical source, a receiver and a decision circuit coupled to the transmission fiber.

Abstract: An optical spike is generated at an arbitrarily selected location within an arbitrary optical link. The optical spike is generated by deriving a spike signal having a plurality of components, and launching the spike signal into the a transmitter end of the optical link. An initial phase relationship between the components is selected such that the involved signal components will be phase aligned at the selected location. In order to achieve this operation, the initial phase relationship between the components may be selected to offset dispersion induced phase changes between the transmitter end of the link and the selected location. One or more optical spikes can be generated at respective arbitrarily selected locations within the link, and may be used for performance monitoring, system control, or other purposes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical communications. In one implementation, a communications device is provided. The communications device includes an Optical domain Adaptive Dispersion Compensation Module (OADCM); an Electrical domain Adaptive Distortion Compensation Module (EADCM); and a controller coupled to, and operable to selectively control, both the OADCM and the EADCM.

Abstract: A dispersion compensator is provided that includes an input port 102 for receiving a WDM optical signal and a dispersion compensating element 110 coupled to the input port for substantially compensating the WDM optical signal for dispersion that has accumulated along an external transmission path. The dispersion compensator also includes an output port 104 for directing the dispersion compensated WDM optical signal to an external element and a dynamic power controller 106, 108, 112, 114, 116 for maintaining a total power of the WDM signal below a prescribed level prior to receipt of the WDM optical signal by the dispersion compensating element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a monitoring technique for the rate of change of polarization state and of the polarization mode dispersion is proposed. This technique is used for performance monitoring and fault correlation as well as for the verification of commitments to customers with respect to the transmission system's tolerance to polarization mode dispersion.

Abstract: A hub for use in a passive optical network (PON) includes a transmission fiber on which an information-bearing optical signal is received, a double-cladded, rare-earth doped fiber located along the transmission fiber for imparting gain to the information-bearing optical signal, and a combiner having an output coupled to the transmission fiber and a plurality of inputs. The output is coupled to the transmission fiber such that optical energy at pump energy wavelengths but not signal wavelengths are communicated therebetween. At least one pump source is optically coupled to one of the inputs of the combiner for providing optical pump energy to the double-cladded, rare-earth doped fiber. An optical splitter is also provided. The optical splitter has an input coupled to the transmission fiber for receiving an amplified, information-bearing optical signal and a plurality of outputs for directing portions of the amplified, information-bearing optical signal to remote nodes in the PON.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating device having a VIPA plate which is an optical component, a lens, and a mirror includes high reflectivity side monitor means for monitoring the light that is input into the VIPA plate and emitted from the first reflecting surface. By this, the passage characteristics of the dispersion compensating device (VIPA) can be equalized to the input light wavelength (output wavelength of light transmitter) in a highly stable manner while restraining the loss of main signal light to the minimum.

Abstract: A method for reducing intra-channel, non-linear distortions of an optical signal resulting from non-linear fiber propagation includes applying a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) pre-distortion to an optical signal such that the PMD pre-distortion produces two replica signals of the optical signal spaced by a differential group delay (DGD). The replica signals are adapted for transmission via an optical fiber. The DGD spacing is selected to reduce intra-channel, non-linear distortions imparted by the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical duobinary transmission system and method are provided for transmitting optical duobinary signals across an optical transmission link having residual dispersion. The system includes a transmitter having a low bandwidth modulator, adapted to provide filtering for low pass filtered duobinary transmission. The transmission link is designed such that the residual dispersion of the transmission link substantially compensates for signal distortion from the transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting an optical duobinary signal using a low bandwidth modulator having a bandwidth of less than about 60% of the transmission bit rate of the transmitter. The modulator is adapted to provide low pass filtering for low pass filtered duobinary transmission in an optical fiber transmission system having residual dispersion.

Abstract: In an optical transmission system, each of optical transmission devices for transmitting wavelength-multiplexed light measures a real dispersion quantity. On the basis the real dispersion quantity measured in a measurement step and design dispersion quantities of respective transmission spans, a management control section computes compensation quantities of the respective transmission spans. The management control section notifies the compensation quantities computed in a computation step to the respective optical transmission devices. On the basis of the notified compensation quantities, the respective optical transmission devices compensate for the dispersion quantities. Thereby, optimal dispersion compensating values using a bypass design are acquired individually for optical paths included in WDM light. Dispersion is automatically, dynamically compensated, thereby inhibiting deterioration of a signal.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensator whereby the amount of dispersion and the group delay time can be easily adjusted. A dispersion unit, a transmitting lens and a group delay generation unit are arranged along the optical axis of incident light. The dispersion unit separates the incident light into beams of respective different wavelengths. The transmitting lens is arranged across the optical paths of the beams of different wavelengths separated by the dispersion unit, and refracts the beams at different angles according to their respective incidence positions. The group delay generation unit is arranged across the optical paths of the beams of different wavelengths refracted by the transmitting lens, causes the beams to undergo propagation delay for periods corresponding to their respective incidence positions, and converges and emits the beams of different wavelengths. Consequently, the beams of different wavelengths are imparted group delay corresponding to the refracting angles of the transmitting lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical processing device (10). The device comprises an optical guiding arrangement having an input (12) and an output (14) and at least two arms (16, 18) between the input (12) and output (14). The at least two arms (16, 18) are coupled so that light guided through one arm will interfere with light guided through the or each other arm. The device (10) also comprises an optical modulator (22) that is arranged to impart a modulation on at least some of the light guided through at least one arm. In addition, the device (10) comprises a polarisation rotator (20) for rotating the polarisation of at least a portion of the guided light so as to control a modulation gain coefficient of the device.

Abstract: A dispersion management system for soliton or soliton-like transmission systems comprises a length of optical fiber (L) in which a plurality of sections (I) made up of components (N,A) of opposite sign dispersions are concatenated together. The duration of the dispersion compensation phase is short in comparison with the propagation interval in the remainder of the system and that the path average dispersion is anomalous.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for compensating polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in an optical communications system includes a controller designed to control a broadband PMD compensator to differentially delay light at each one of a plurality of selected wavelengths. At least one of the selected wavelengths lies between an adjacent pair of channel wavelengths of the optical communications system. A performance parameter value indicative of PMD is measured at each channel wavelength of the optical communications system. An estimated performance parameter value is then calculated at each selected wavelength, and an error function calculated as a function of wavelength based on the estimated performance parameter values. The broadband PMD compensator is then controlled to minimize the value of the error function.

Abstract: An optical receiving apparatus is provided with a receiver, a setting unit, and a storage unit. The receiver receives an optical signal modulated in a DPSK format and performs variable dispersion compensation and delay interference processing on the optical signal to demodulate the optical signal. The setting unit sets suitable setting values of the variable dispersion compensation and the delay interference processing for the receiver based on an error condition of the demodulated signal. The storage unit stores the setting values set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A transmission characteristics evaluation system can measure the dispersion tolerance and the insertion loss gradient tolerance at a high precision with reduced number of working steps for the measurement in evaluating the transmission characteristics of an optical module. The transmission characteristics evaluation system comprises an optical transmitting apparatus, an optical receiving apparatus for, and a pseudo transmission path apparatus interposed between the optical transmitting apparatus and the optical receiving apparatus. The pseudo transmission path apparatus has, in a pseudo manner, transmission characteristics of a transmission path to which the optical transmitting apparatus and the optical receiving apparatus are to be connected. The pseudo transmission path apparatus comprises a transmission characteristics setting section for setting transmission characteristics equivalent to the transmission characteristics that the transmission path can have, by controlling a mirror or an optical element.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation apparatus includes a dispersion compensation unit that conducts dispersion compensation on an optical signal sent from a transmitting device through a transmission path. The dispersion compensation unit includes a switch that switches a path of the optical signal between a first path and a second path, and that latches to one of the first path and the second path to which the path is switched; and a fixed dispersion compensation unit that is provided on the second path, and that conducts dispersion compensation at a fixed level upon an optical signal passing through the second path.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting an installed performance parameter of an optical fiber cable. The method includes obtaining a measurement indicative of a value of the performance parameter at a first moment in time. A measurement indicative of a value of the performance parameter at a second moment in time may then be obtained. A first correlation may then be determined between the measurement at the first moment in time and the measurement at the second moment in time. A value of the performance parameter at the second moment in time may then be estimated based upon the measurement at the first moment in time in combination with the first correlation, the first correlation being based upon observations of a manner in which the performance parameter varies over time for at least a second optical fiber.

Abstract: A programmable optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) implements add/drop function of optical signals from a number of cross-connected optical systems while treating issues of coherent cross-talk, chromatic dispersion, slope of dispersion and amplitude equalization. Input WDM (wavelength division multiplexed) optical signals from a number of optical systems are each de-multiplexed into a number of optical path signal that are routed through switches and then multiplexed into a number of output WDM optical signals. Problems with coherent cross-talk in optical path signals are eliminated by introducing equivalent optical path lengths between paths through which the optical path signals propagate and by introducing dead-bands between consecutive optical path signals.

Abstract: In an optical signal monitoring method in wavelength multiplexing and an optical network, an area corresponding to a characteristic pattern of an eye pattern of an optical signal to be monitored, which characterizes a deterioration, is extracted from a database storing a map which associates a quality deterioration factor and deterioration amount of the optical signal with the characteristic pattern of the area of the eye pattern of the optical signal. The extracted pattern is collated with the map stored in the database to monitor the quality deterioration factor and deterioration amount of the optical signal, an occurrence time of a deterioration, duration of a deterioration, a deterioration occurrence cycle, and a deterioration duration cycle. An optical signal monitoring apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical transmission system includes a first/second node with a first/second dispersion compensator that performs a first/second dispersion compensation on an optical signal; and a third node that is arranged between the first/second nodes. The amounts of the first/second dispersion compensations are determined so that a cumulative dispersion of the optical signal after the second dispersion compensation is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the dispersion characteristics of minimum phase filters using substantially only an amplitude response of a minimum phase filter under test includes fitting an amplitude spectrum of the minimum phase filter with a substantially straight line curve, and determining the dispersion characteristics of the minimum phase filter using the straight line curve and the relationships determined by the inventors. Various inventive equations determined by the inventors representative of the relationship between an amplitude response of a minimum phase filter and the dispersion characteristics of the minimum phase filter are used for determining the dispersion characteristics of the minimum phase filter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for higher-order PMD compensation are implemented by developing an effective mathematical model and applying economical design techniques to the model. By assuming a constant precession rate for a narrow band of frequencies in an optical signal, a simplified model of a higher-order PMD compensator can be derived. The model can be used produce an economical compensator by making multiple uses of selected optical components.

Abstract: A multi-channel (e.g. WDM) receiver, in which l PMD compensators are time-shared by n (n>1) communication channels, where 1?l?n?1. The receiver implements PMD monitoring to identify channels exhibiting relatively high amounts of PMD. Some or all of the identified channels are then subjected, before decoding, to PMD-reduction processing, while the remaining channels are decoded without such processing. Channel allocation for the processing may be changed dynamically depending on the current amounts of PMD exhibited by various channels. Due to efficient utilization of PMD compensators, multi-channel receivers of the invention are capable of performance comparable to that of the corresponding fully compensated (i.e., having a dedicated PMD compensator for each channel) receivers, but at appreciably lower cost.

Abstract: Optical transponders incorporating an optical dispersion compensator (“ODC”) to perform an adjustable, frequency dependent correction of an optical signal are described and claimed. The ODC is adjusted by a feedback controller that responds to information from at least one signal analyzer. Systems using similar ODC-equipped optical transponders are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An optical dispersion monitoring apparatus and an optical dispersion monitoring method are capable of monitoring dispersion accurately with a simple construction in an optical transmission system using the same. To this end, the optical dispersion monitoring apparatus includes a light receiving section converting an input optical signal into an electrical signal, a signal transition position detecting section detecting the voltage level of a waveform of the output signal from the light receiving section, at a crossing point of a rising edge and a falling edge, and a cumulative dispersion information extracting section comparing the voltage level at the crossing point with a reference signal to extracts cumulative dispersion information.

Abstract: An optical transmission system including an optical transmitting device and an optical receiving device. The optical transmitting device includes a data signal splitting section for splitting data signal information into at least two parts and generating at least two electrical signals having different center frequencies and bands, a frequency multiplexing section for performing frequency multiplexing for the at least two electrical signals, and an electrical-to-optical conversion section for converting the frequency-multiplexed signal to an optical signal and sending it to an optical transmission path. The optical receiving device includes an optical-to-electrical conversion section for converting the optical signal to a frequency-multiplexed signal, a band demultiplexing section for demultiplexing the frequency-multiplexed signal to obtain at least two electrical signals, and a data signal recovering section for recovering the data signal based on the at least two demultiplexed electrical signals.

Abstract: The invention is the novel use of dispersion compensation in a long haul wavelength division multiplexed high capacity optical transport system which has very many channels packed extremely closely together, in order to greatly reduce the deleterious effects of four-wave mixing. Four-wave mixing is an exchange of energy between nominally independent channels, arising from the fundamental fiber non-linearity, which has the effect of degrading transmission quality. Conventional systems make use of fiber dispersion compensating modules to overcome the effects of fiber dispersion. In such systems, it has been discovered that the exact distribution of fiber dispersion along the optical link (the ‘dispersion map’) strongly influences the degree of four-wave mixing, and hence the degradation in transmission quality.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion generating apparatus of the present invention comprises a VIPA plate capable of emitting an incident light to different directions according to wavelengths, a three-dimensional mirror reflecting the light of respective wavelengths emitted from the VIPA plate at a previously set position to return them to the VIPA plate, and a control section that controls a position of the three-dimensional mirror and the temperature of the VIPA plate.

Abstract: An optical signal, which is a low-speed signal superimposed on a high-speed phase modulated optical signal by intensity modulation, is used. In an optical receiver apparatus 40, a received signal is split, and one of the split signals is O/E converted and low frequency component alone is extracted via a filter 46. A clock is extracted from low-frequency component by CDR, and is compared with a preset frequency. Using the frequency difference obtained, dispersion compensation is performed with low accuracy. Next, the amount of phase control of the delay interferometer 21 is adjusted so that the amplitude of the electrical signal is maximized. An error rate is measured, and fine adjustment is performed to improve the error rate.

Abstract: A channel allocation method of channels having different transmission speeds in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system is provided. The channel allocation method in a multirate optical transmission system includes selecting a channel having the lowest transmission speed from not allotted channels, allotting the selected channel to the longest wavelength band of empty wavelength bands, and determining whether not allotted channels exist in order to repeatedly perform selecting the channel having the lowest transmission speed from the not allotted channels and allotting the selected channel to the longest wavelength band of the empty wavelength bands, until all the channels are allotted.

Abstract: An optical receiver including an optical divider to divide a signal light from an optical transmission line into two portions, a first and a second dispersion compensators, each dispersion compensator having variable dispersion compensation to compensate chromatic dispersions of each of the two portions of signal light output from the optical divider, and a data demodulator to demodulate a data carried by a signal light output from the first dispersion compensator. The optical receiver further includes an optical autocorrelator to operate on a signal light output from the second dispersion compensator and a controller to control the second dispersion compensator to increase autocorrelation of the optical autocorrelator, and to control the first dispersion compensator according to the result of said controlling the second dispersion compensator.

Abstract: If no alarm is input from an optical receiver, an FEC decoder, or a client signal monitor, a control circuit controls a variable dispersion equalizer such that a transmission error becomes smaller using information on the number of error corrections obtained from the FEC decoder and fixes a dispersion equalization value in the event that the error becomes equal to or lower than a specified value. If the alarm information is input, the control circuit switches control over the variable dispersion equalizer from an ordinary control to a search mode control for searching an optimal dispersion equalization value in a wide range to thereby search the optimal dispersion equalization value at a higher speed.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical component provided with a demultiplexing function capable of reducing an insertion loss and downsizing, and a wavelength dispersion compensator using such an optical component.

Abstract: Methods and systems for PMD compensation in an optical communication system are implemented by transmitting multiple optical signals through a common optical conduit to an optical compensator that adjustably rotates the polarization states of the multiple optical signals and transmits the rotated optical signals to an optical receiver. The receiver, upon sensing an excessive error condition, commands the optical compensator to change the polarization state of rotation, which changes the PMD profile of the received optical signals.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensation system for an optical transmission system incorporates circuitry which determines the length of an optical fiber extending between an output amplifier and an input amplifier. Based on fiber type, the total chromatic dispersion on the fiber is determined. Compensation can then be automatically implemented.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating residual dispersion curvature in an optical communication network is disclosed. One embodiment employs two types of dispersion compensating fiber to reduce higher order terms in a residual dispersion profile. The two types of dispersion compensating fiber may be co-located in a dispersion compensation module positioned in each transmission fiber link. Alternatively, the two types of dispersion compensating fiber may be distributed across a span of the optical communication network.

Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion (PMD) controller device for controlling the state of polarization of an optical light wave comprising a dispersion compensation unit (2; 25; 40) and an adaptation control unit (6; 28; 44), wherein the dispersion compensation unit (2; 25; 40) comprises a multitude of compensation stages processing the optical light wave, and wherein the adaptation control unit (6; 28; 44) controls the dispersion compensation unit (2; 25; 40) is characterized in that at least one feed-forward signal tap (4; 26a-26c, 73a-73c) is provided tapping the optical light wave inserted into one of the compensation stages, that the feed-forward signal(s) is(are) fed into a distortion analyzer unit (5; 27; 66) and that the distortion analyzer unit (5; 27; 66) provides the adaptation control unit (6; 28; 44) with information about the incoming optical light wave. It accelerates the adaptation speed and lowers the costs of a high-speed PMD controller device.

Abstract: An optical performance monitor (OPM) adapted to (i) sample an autocorrelation function corresponding to an optical signal transmitted in an optical network and (ii) based on the sampling, characterize two or more impairments concurrently present in the optical signal. In one embodiment, the OPM has an optical autocorrelator (OAC) coupled to a signal processor (SP). The OAC receives the optical signal from the network, generates two or more samples of its autocorrelation function, and applies said samples to the SP. The SP processes the samples and generates two or more signal metrics. Based on the signal metrics and reference data corresponding to the impairments, the SP then obtains a measure of each of the impairments.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting an installed performance parameter of an optical fiber cable. The method includes obtaining a measurement indicative of a value of the performance parameter at a first moment in time. A measurement indicative of a value of the performance parameter at a second moment in time may then be obtained. A first correlation may then be determined between the measurement at the first moment in time and the measurement at the second moment in time. A value of the performance parameter at the second moment in time may then be estimated based upon the measurement at the first moment in time in combination with the first correlation, the first correlation being based upon observations of a manner in which the performance parameter varies over time for at least a second optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical communication method and apparatus are provided, the apparatus including polarization controllers, and drive circuitry for driving the polarization controllers at a plurality of frequencies such that the penalties from PMD, PDL and PDG are mitigated.

Abstract: A process optically transports digital data over an all-optical long-haul communication path. The process includes transporting digital optical data signals at a selected bit rate and a selected wavelength over a sequence of transmission spans. The sequence includes 70 percent or more of the spans of the long-haul all-optical communication path. Each span of the sequence has a primary local maximum optical power point for the wavelength on a transmission fiber and nearest to an input of the span. The transporting causes a cumulative dispersion of each signal to evolve such that residual dispersions per span are positive over some of the spans and are negative over other of the spans. At the primary local maximum power points, magnitudes of cumulative dispersions of the signals in pico seconds per nanometer remain at less than 32,000 times the inverse of the bit rate in giga bits per second.

Abstract: An optical transmission system capable of transmitting with high quality all the component signals of a signal lightwave having a broad total wavelength band and particularly suitable for the CWDM optical transmission, and an optical multiplexer and an optical demultiplexer for the system. Component signals outputted from optical transmitters are combined by an optical multiplexer, travel over an optical fiber transmission line, and arrive at an optical demultiplexer to be separated. They are received by optical receivers. The total transmission loss in the transmission line is smaller at wavelength ?b than at wavelength ?a. The insertion loss of the optical multiplexer or the optical receiver is larger at wavelength ?b than at wavelength ?a. The difference in power between the component signals having wavelengths ?a and ?b arriving at the optical receivers is smaller than the difference in the total transmission loss in the transmission line between wavelengths ?a and ?b.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of processing an optical signal, including the steps of (a) inputting signal light into a first nonlinear optical medium to broaden the spectrum of the signal light through self phase modulation occurring in the first nonlinear optical medium, thereby obtaining first spectrally broadened light, (b) compensating for chromatic dispersion effected on the first spectrally broadened light obtained in the step (a), and (c) inputting the first spectrally broadened light processed by the step (b) into a second nonlinear optical medium to broaden the spectrum of the first spectrally broadened light through self phase modulation occurring in the second nonlinear optical medium, thereby obtaining second spectrally broadened light.

Abstract: To obtain a dispersion compensation type optical signal receiving apparatus constituted in such a manner that an electric signal outputted from a light receiving module can be properly inputted to an electronic dispersion compensation IC without being distorted, even when the input level of the optical signal is high.

Abstract: Dispersion compensation values are set so as to be transmittable to any path groups in a WDM optical communication system having OADM nodes, which includes transmitting-end and receiving-end terminal nodes; a WDM optical communication transmission line including a plurality of spans each having an optical fiber, the plurality of spans joining the transmitting-end and receiving-end terminal nodes; and a plurality of add drop multiplexing (OADM) nodes disposed on the optical communication transmission line; wherein when taking as the reference a residual dispersion target value of between the transmitting-end terminal and receiving-end terminal nodes, a residual dispersion target value for a node segment between one of the terminal nodes and one of the add drop multiplexing (OADM) nodes and a residual dispersion target value for a node-to-node segment between two of the add drop multiplexing (OADM) nodes are set so as to be proportional to ratios of the span counts in the node segment and in the node-to-node se

Abstract: An optical brancher branches an input optical signal into two. An optical detector converts one optical signal branched by the optical brancher into an electrical signal. A first controller generates a control electrical signal having a waveform obtained by inverting the envelope of the electrical signal. Based on the control electrical signal, an optical signal generator produces a dummy optical signal having a waveform ?d and an amplitude ?/2. The other signal branched by the optical brancher is delayed by a delay unit for a predetermined time, and then multiplexed by an optical multiplexer with the dummy optical signal from the optical signal generator. An optical amplifier amplifies amultiplexed optical signal. An optical filter separates an optical signal of a wavelength ?1 from the amplified optical signal. Thus, optical signal amplification can be carried out without optical surges.