Dispersion Compensation Patents (Class 398/147)
  • Patent number: 7099597
    Abstract: An iterative process is used to set the phase prechirp of a WDM optical transport system to a system's optimal level that maximizes the signal quality. A signal degradation factor takes into account linear and non-linear effects along the optical path and is used as a receive end feedback signal to control the phase prechirp level at the transmitter site. By using the FEC corrected errors rate as the feedback signal, optimization of signal quality is performed even when the system is running error free. By using an adaptive phase prechirp transmitter, signal degradation compensation can be also performed on a per wavelength basis to compensate for the residual dispersion slope and to allow optimization of individual channels independently of the net link dispersion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: PTS Corporation
    Inventors: Ross Alexander Saunders, Rajkumar Nagarajan, Hanan Anis, Andrew Robinson, Sacha Corbeil
  • Patent number: 7092641
    Abstract: A system that transmits amplitude modulated data in a wavelength-encoded format and then uses a wavelength-sensitive receiver to convert the received optical signal back to the original amplitude modulated data. This system enables transmission of optical signals that are less sensitive to attenuation and attenuation changes. This system is applicable to data in digital, multilevel, or analog formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Lisa A. Windover
  • Patent number: 7088925
    Abstract: Device for detecting polarization mode dispersion of an optical data signal, which has at least one EXOR gate together with an averaging device for measuring at least one value of the autocorrelation function of a baseband signal distorted by polarization mode dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhold Noe
  • Patent number: 7082268
    Abstract: Optical transmitter/receivers for use in a DWDM systems are provided. Transmission of data signals in a quadrature-return-to-zero (QRZ) format achieves a data transmission rate equal to eight times a base data rate, i.e., 80 Gbps over a 100 GHz channel if the base data rate is 10 Gbps, with high non-linear performance by setting the polarization state of the data bands such that non-linear effects induced by PMD are reduced. Additionally, a transmitter achieves a transmission data rate equal to 16 times the base data rate by sharpening the QRZ pulses and interleaving pulse-sharpened QRZ data signals in the time domain, further doubling the data rate. Using counterpropagation in the transmitter, carrier signals and data signals traverse the same length of fiber, reducing fringing effects in the transmitter. Related techniques enhance reception and detection of data at high data rates. A local pulse-sharpened carrier is mixed with a QRZ data signal at a detector reducing amplification noise by a factor of two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Teradvance Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel F. C. Schemmann, Zoran Maricevic, Bogdan Hoanca
  • Patent number: 7076174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing an optical signal is provided. An optical signal is input into an optical waveguide structure for providing a nonlinear effect. As a result, the optical signal undergoes chirping induced by the nonlinear effect. An output optical signal output from the optical waveguide structure is supplied to an optical bandpass filter to thereby extract components except a small-chirp component from the output optical signal. The optical bandpass filter has a pass band including a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical signal. By extracting the components except the small-chirp component from the output optical signal in the form of pulse, it is possible to remove intensity fluctuations or accumulated noise especially at a top portion and/or a low-power portion of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shigeki Watanabe, Fumio Futami
  • Patent number: 7076173
    Abstract: A method for dispersion compensation regulation wherein, in order to transmit high-bit-rate optical signals, in a first step a bit-rate-reduced optical signal is formed from the high-bit-rate optical signal by the N-fold repetition at the transmitting end of each logic 1 and each logic 0, and in a second step the bit-rate-reduced optical signal is transmitted. In a third step the bit error rate of the transmitted bit-rate-reduced optical signal is determined at the receiving end, and in a fourth step the absolute-magnitude compensations of the dispersion compensation units are regulated in such a way that the determined bit error rate is minimized. After the bit error rate has been minimized by regulations the second to fourth steps are repeatedly carried out for the high-bit-rate optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Cornelius Cremer
  • Patent number: 7076172
    Abstract: An optical waveguide system exhibiting reduced noise includes a varying dispersion optical waveguide fiber and a high frequency electrical filter. The varying dispersion fiber shifts the frequency spectrum of the noise relative to that of the signal so that the noise can be filtered with substantially no effect on the signal. The varying dispersion fiber is a passive component of the optical system and is compatible with optical connecting and splicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Shiva Kumar
  • Patent number: 7068943
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for dynamic dispersion compensation. According to one embodiment of the invention, a dispersion compensating device includes a negative dispersion fiber having an input configured to receive the optical signal, the negative dispersion fiber having a length and dispersion sufficient to remove any positive chirp from each wavelength channel of the optical signal, thereby outputting a negatively chirped optical signal; an amplifying device configured to amplify the negatively chirped optical signal; and a nonlinear positive dispersion fiber configured to receive the negatively chirped optical signal. The devices of the present invention provide broadband compensation for systems having a wide range of variable residual dispersions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrey E. Korolev, Dmitri V. Kuksenkov, Shenping Li, Daniel A. Nolan, Michael Sauer, Alexej Sysoliatin
  • Patent number: 7068411
    Abstract: An optical sampling method and apparatus are provided for modulating an optical signal using a first electroabsorption modulator (EAM) driven by a sinusoidal RF voltage signal to provide substantially jitter free temporal gating of the optical signal. The gated optical signal from the first EAM is routed through a second EAM to provide an optical output signal having a reduced repetition rate. The second EAM is driven using an electrical pulse train having a repetition rate that is a subharmonic of the frequency of the sinusoidal RF voltage signal driving the first EAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe J Dorrer, Inuk Kang
  • Patent number: 7068876
    Abstract: An optical fiber transmission line composed of a plurality of segments each having a length falling within a predetermined range is provided. An optical transmitter for supplying an optical signal to the transmission line is provided at one end of the transmission line. An optical receiver for receiving the optical signal from the transmission line is provided at the other end of the transmission line. An optical amplifier is provided between any two adjacent ones of the segments. A dispersion compensator is provided in association with each of the optical transmitter, the optical receiver, and the optical amplifier. The dispersion compensator provides a dispersion selected from a plurality of stepwise varying dispersions determined according to the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Tsuda, Kazuo Yamane, Yumiko Kawasaki, Satoru Okano
  • Patent number: 7058314
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing timing and amplitude jitter in trnasmission of Retrun-to-Zero modulated pulses is described. In the reduction of amplitude jitter the modulated pulses must be phase coherent. The method comprises the steps of measuring a total dispersion of a transmission fiber link, computing an optimal amount of pre-chirp to be added at an input of said transmission fiber link, computing an optimal amount of pre-chirp to be added at an output of said transmission fiber link, adding said optimal amount of pre-chirp to said input of said tranmisssion fiber link and adding said optimal amount of pre-chirp to said output of said tranmisssion fiber link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Carl Balslev Clausen, Antonio Mecozzi, Mark Shtaif
  • Patent number: 7054559
    Abstract: A system and method for modular multiplexing and amplification of optical signals in subwindows within an operating window of a fiber optic communication network. An operating window is divided into subwindows. Optical signals in each subwindow are optically amplified separately and in parallel by a plurality of optical line amplifiers. According to one embodiment, the operating window is divided into four subwindows within an erbium wavelength band. Each subwindow corresponds to a different group of channels having optical signals of a different wavelength. Modular wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) units multiplex/demultiplex optical signals in the set of multiple channels. A modular WDM unit includes a coarse WDM unit and four fine WDM units. The coarse WDM multiplexes optical signals by wavelength into subwindows separated by relatively large guard bands. A fine WDM unit further multiplexes optical signals within a subwindow by wavelength into individual channels with a fine separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Viet Le, Xiaoping Mao
  • Patent number: 7050719
    Abstract: The WDM receiver includes a wavelength demultiplexer, a detector array and a signal extractor. The wavelength demultiplexer receives an n-channel optical input signal and transmits the n-channel optical input signal to m optical outputs. Each of the optical outputs receives a wavelength band centered at a different wavelength. The wavelength bands have a center-to-center wavelength spacing of ???. The detector array is composed of m detector elements coupled to the wavelength demultiplexer. Each of the detector elements generates a detection signal in response to light received from one of the optical outputs of the wavelength demultiplexer. The signal extractor receives the detection signals from the detector array and converts the detection signals to an n-channel receiver output signal, each channel of which corresponds to a different one of the n channels of the optical input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventors: Brian E. Lemoff, Frank H. Peters
  • Patent number: 7050658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing system deterioration caused by polarization effects (e.g., a polarization-dependent gain (PDG), a polarization-dependent loss (PDL), and a polarization mode dispersion (PMD)). The apparatus performs a signal modulation process to enable one bit to simultaneously contain two orthogonal polarization components, resulting in a minimum DOP (Degree Of Polarization). If a signal undergoes the PMD, the apparatus converts an NRZ (Non Return to Zero) signal into an RZ (Return to Zero) signal, resulting in minimum inter-symbol interference caused by the PMD. The apparatus can improve a performance of an optical signal during the PMD operation, whereas a conventional PMD compensation technique has been designed to remove system deterioration caused by only the PMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yun Chur Chung, Jun Haeng Lee, Chun Ju Youn
  • Patent number: 7046935
    Abstract: A system for reducing the influence of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in high speed fiber optical transmission channels. A signal is forward error correction (FEC) encoded according to an FEC code that defines a specified error tolerance per codeword. The invention then effectively randomizes the input polarization of the signal before transmission, in order to reduce the likelihood that PMD will distort one or more codewords beyond the allowed error tolerance. The invention will thereby increase the PMD-limited transmission distance in an optical transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Fang, Li-Ping Chen, Chao-Xiang Shi
  • Patent number: 7039324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for regenerating an optical signal suitable for WDM (wavelength division multiplexing). In this method, an optical signal is supplied to an optical waveguide structure (e.g., optical fiber) for providing a nonlinear effect. As a result, the optical signal undergoes chirp induced by the nonlinear effect. Then, an output optical signal output from the optical waveguide structure is supplied to an optical filter to thereby remove a small-chirp component from the output optical signal. By removing the small-chirp component from the output optical signal in the form of pulse, intensity fluctuations or accumulated noise especially at a top portion and/or a low-power portion of the pulse can be removed. Accordingly, the optical signal can be regenerated independently of the bit rate, pulse shape, etc. of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shigeki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7035548
    Abstract: A dispersion compensation controlling apparatus used in a very high-speed optical communication system adopting optical time division multiplexing system comprises a first specific frequency component detecting unit (2a) detecting a first specific frequency-component in a baseband spectrum in a transmission optical signal inputted to a receiving side over a transmission fiber as a transmission line (6a), a first intensity detecting unit (3a) detecting information on an intensity of the first specific frequency component detected by the first specific frequency component detecting unit (2a and a polarization-mode dispersion controlling unit (220a) con trolling a polarization-mode dispersion quantity of the transmission line (6a) such that the intensity of the first specific frequency component detected by the first intensity detecting unit. (3a) becomes the maximum, thereby easily detecting and compensating polarization-mode dispersion generated in a high-speed optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Ooi, George Ishikawa, Yuichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7031613
    Abstract: End of line dispersion compensation is applied on a sub-band by sub-band basis. Adequate end-of-line dispersion compensation may be provided for high data rate WDM systems even for optical link lengths of 1000 km or more. Dispersion compensating gratings (DCGs) may be used as the dispersion compensating components. There is a great savings in cost and package volume compared to per-channel compensation schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Mazzini, Federico Carniel
  • Patent number: 7027740
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is proposed for use in a communication system in which an optical communications path including a plurality of optical spans, each of the optical spans contributing nonlinear distortions to an optical signal passing there-through includes, providing a dispersion pre-compensation to the optical signal in the optical communications path, such that the limiting nonlinear effect that produces signal distortions for long-haul transmission is suppressed, prior to transmission through a plurality of optical spans, and providing a dispersion post-compensation to the optical signal in the optical communications path after transmission through the plurality of optical spans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Rene′-Jean Essiambre, Lisa Kathleen Wickham
  • Patent number: 7020398
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a compact dispersion slope equalizer by which it is possible to simultaneously recover distorted waveforms of WDM signals by dispersion slope of DSF or NZ-DSF at 1.55 ?m band, and to compensate for the dispersion of various fiber transmission lines having various dispersion values and variation of dispersion value caused by the temperature change or the like. WDM signals distorted by the dispersion slope of the fiber are introduced into an input waveguide, and are demultiplexed by a wavelength demultiplexer into each wavelength component, and pass through lattice-form optical circuits, transversal-form optical circuits, or the combination of these circuits. The dispersion slope of the signals is compensated for by these circuits. The recovered signals are multiplexed by a wavelength multiplexer, and the multiplexed light is outputted at an output waveguide. Arrayed-waveguide gratings can be used as the wavelength demultiplexer and multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Takiguchi, Katsunari Okamoto, Takashi Goh
  • Patent number: 7013085
    Abstract: A method of detecting polarization mode dispersion (PMD) indicative parameters of an optical fiber link comprising at least one transmission channel in which is transmitted a first wideband optical signal with a bandwidth divided into sub-bands. For each sub-band is produced a second reference optical signal with which to find a third optical signal by superposition. For each of the third signals are calculated first parameters considered indicative of the PMD thereof, and with the first parameters of all the sub-bands are calculated second parameters considered indicative of the PMD of the first wideband signal. The method can be used as part of a PMD compensation method for a transmission system employing the parameters calculated for feedback piloting of a PMD compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Marconi Communications S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Galtarossa, Raoul Fiorone, Luca Palmieri, Andrea Corti
  • Patent number: 7010231
    Abstract: At a receiver a 20 Gbit/s soliton bit stream (20) is demultiplexed into two 10 Gbit/s bit streams (22a, 22b) using a 2-way splitter (6), a clock extraction circuit (4), and a pair of polarization insensitive amplitude modulators (8a, 8b) exhibiting positive chirp. The outputs of the modulators are fed to detectors (7a, 7b) via lengths (9a, 9b) of optical fiber exhibiting normal dispersion thereby producing bit streams (23a, 23b) with increased mark/space ratio and reduced timing jitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Photonics Italy S.r.L.
    Inventors: Pierluigi Franco, Giorgio Grasso, Matjaz Vidmar
  • Patent number: 7010181
    Abstract: A device for compensating for PMD occurring in a transmission optical fiber in an optical transmission system. An output beam from an optical fiber link changes its polarization state by a polarization controller (PC) to be applied to a PBS. A first polarization component passes through a variable delay line, rotates by a predetermined angle, and is inputted to the PBS. A portion of a second polarization component is transmitted by a predetermined mirror. The reflected second polarization component is applied to the PBS to be combined with the first polarization component inputted to the PBS. The transmitted second polarization component passes through a photo-detector and a BPF. The filtered signal is inputted to a PC controller to select the smaller value among the currently and previously measured power values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ki-Ho Han, Moo-Jung Chu
  • Patent number: 7006769
    Abstract: The invention, relates to a method for optical fiber communication. An optical signal having chirping determined by a chirp parameter is output to an optical fiber transmission line. The optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber transmission line is converted into an electrical signal. A bit error of the electrical signal is detected. Then, the chirp parameter is controlled so that the bit error detected above is reduced. According to this method, the chirp parameter is controlled so that the bit error detected is reduced. Accordingly, a chirping occurring in the optical fiber transmission line can be suppressed by the chirping of the optical signal to be output to the optical fiber transmission line, thereby compensating for chromatic dispersion and nonlinearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yumiko Kawasaki, Kazuo Yamane, Takashi Tsuda, Satoru Okano
  • Patent number: 7006770
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical receiving station, an optical communication system, and a dispersion controlling method for precisely controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line or chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line that varies with time. An optical receiving station is provided with a dispersion compensating section for receiving, via an optical transmission line, an optical signal modulated according to an optical duo-binary modulation method and for changing a dispersion value to be used for compensating for chromatic dispersion in an optical transmission line, an intensity detecting section for detecting the intensity of a specific frequency component of the optical signal output from the dispersion compensating section, and a controlling section for adjusting the dispersion value of the dispersion compensating section so that the output of the intensity detecting section has a predetermined extreme value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Akiyama, Hiroki Ooi, George Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6999640
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that compensate for polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) mid-link in a network. According to the invention, a light conditioning system is installed mid-link in a network and receives a channel from a de-multiplexer. In the light conditioning system, a splitter system receives a light beam representing the channel from the de-multiplexer. The splitter system splits the input light beam into a first beam having a first polarization mode and a second beam having a second polarization mode substantially orthogonal to the first polarization mode. A PMD system then synchronizes the first polarization mode and the second polarization mode in time to compensate for PMD affecting the input light beam. A combiner system combines the first beam and the second beam into an output light beam that is PMD compensated, and transmits the output light beam to a multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: David Lindel Harris
  • Patent number: 6993228
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical transmission system and module which includes a negative dispersion, dispersion compensating optical fiber coupled to a micro-structured optical fiber (such as band gap fiber, photonic crystal fiber or holey fiber) for compensating for the accumulated dispersion in a transmission fiber. The optical transmission system and module in accordance with the invention provides substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over an operating wavelength band, reduced overall system length, and lower insertion loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James P. Burke, Jr., Dirk Mueller
  • Patent number: 6987804
    Abstract: A process is proposed for recovering disturbed digital signals, wherein the electrical signals pass through a feedback equalizer and an analogue control of the setting parameters of the equalizers is performed. A pseudo-error monitor, which facilitates a high-speed adjustment of decision element thresholds, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Fred Buchali, Henning Bülow
  • Patent number: 6985660
    Abstract: An optical fiber comprises a core region extending along a predetermined axis X, and a cladding region surrounding the core region. The cladding region 14 comprises first to (N+1)-th regions such that the first region surrounds the core region, and the (k+1)-th region surrounds the k-th region (k=1, 2, . . . , N). At least one of the first to (N+1)-th regions includes, in a main medium having a predetermined refractive index, a sub-region made of an auxiliary medium having a refractive index different from that of the main medium. Letting n[0] be the average refractive index of the core region, and n[k] (k=1, 2, . . . , N+1) be the average refractive index of the k-th region, this optical fiber satisfies the relationship of n[0]>n[1], and n[i]>n[i+1] (?i=h, h+1, . . . , h+m; where h and m are natural numbers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Koshiba, Kunimasa Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6980741
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include an electrical signal distortion compensator configured to electrically distort an electrical signal to offset optical distortion imposed by a Fabry-Perot filter on an optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal. The electrical signal distortion compensator can be used in an optical transmitter to distort the electrical signal prior to optical transmission, or in an optical receiver after optical transmission. The distortion compensation can be performed on a baseband signal or a modulated electrical carrier. Likewise, the distortion compensator can be deployed in combination with an optical receiver, which allows the use of the F-P filter-optical receiver combination with transmitters and receivers that do not include F-P filters or distortion compensators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventor: Alistair J. Price
  • Patent number: 6980738
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a dispersion compensation module for compensating dispersion in a communications network. The dispersion compensation module includes dispersion compensating fiber having a dispersion coefficient that varies with wavelength. A thermal regulator adjusts the temperature of the dispersion compensating fiber to adjust the dispersion characteristic of the dispersion compensating fiber. Alternate embodiments of the invention include a communications system using the dispersion compensation module and a method for compensating dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Y. Frankel, Victor Mizrahi
  • Patent number: 6980747
    Abstract: An integrated, optically amplified receiver includes an optically pumped optical preamplifier for receiving, generally, wavelength division multiplexed optical communication signal over an optical communications line. A PIN photodetector receives the optical communication signal as a filtered demultiplexed signal from the optical preamplifier and converts the optical communication signal into an electrical communication signal. An amplifier circuit amplifies the electrical communication signal for digital retiming or demodulation. A housing or printed circuit card assembly contains the optical preamplifier, filter or demultiplexer, PIN photo detector and amplifier circuit as an integrated receiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: John DeSalvo, Michael Lange, Scott Bricker, Randall K. Morse, Jane Claire White
  • Patent number: 6965738
    Abstract: A dispersion compensation system and method for use in an optical transmission system to compensate for signal distortion of an optical signal is provided. The dispersion compensation system includes a first and second transceivers for generating and receiving the optical signal respectively. An optical line couples the first transceiver to the second transceiver. A plurality of amplifiers are coupled to the optical line, spaced periodically throughout the optical line forming span distances, where the amplifiers amplify the optical signal and where the span differences are variable. A plurality of dispersion compensation modules are coupled to the plurality of amplifiers where the dispersion compensation models include a coarse granularity module having a resolution of at least 5 kilometers connected to a connector, the connector also connected to a fine granularity module having a resolution of one kilometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Michael H. Eiselt, Mark Shtaif
  • Patent number: 6963685
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to an optical filter for a fiber optic communication system. An optical filter may be used, following a directly modulated laser source, and converts a partially frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal. The optical filter may compensate for the dispersion in the fiber optic transmission medium and may also lock the wavelength of the laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Mahgerefteh, Parviz Tayebati
  • Patent number: 6963695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical communication system including a structure for suppressing deterioration of transmission characteristics of signals added at each of nodes arranged in an optical transmission line, and a method of assigning signal channels. The optical communication system includes the optical transmission line for transmitting signals of plural channels between a transmitter and a receiver, and one or more nodes are arranged at predetermined positions of the optical transmission line. Each of the nodes includes an ADM for adding signals of a predetermined channel to the optical transmission line, and a signal channel at which the absolute value of accumulated-dispersion up to the receiver becomes smallest among signal channels which can be added is assigned to each of the nodes in advance or dynamically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Okuno
  • Patent number: 6961492
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a colorless polarization independent Mach-Zehnder-interferometer (MZI)-based tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) that has only three MZI stages (two in a reflective MZI-TDC) and two adjustable couplers which are responsive to one control voltage, making it compact, low power, and simple to fabricate, test, and operate. Polarization independence is obtained by using a half-wave plate positioned across the midpoints of the two path lengths of middle stage MZI of the three stage MZI-TDC and by using a quarter-wave plate in front of a reflective facet of the reflective MZI-TDC. A cascaded MZI-TDC arrangement with also only a single control is formed by cascading two MZI-TDC arrangements and driving all adjustable couplers with the same control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Richard Doerr
  • Patent number: 6959152
    Abstract: To generate light with the degree of polarization zeroed and the spread of an optical spectrum suppressed even with temporal overlapping between optical pulses each of which is polarized orthogonally to the succeeding pulse, a polarization scrambler includes an optical pulse generator that generates optical pulses with an intensity waveform repetition period T/2 and an electrical field repetition period T in which the same intensity waveform is repeated every repetition period T/2 and in which phase is inverted every repetition period T/2, and an orthogonal polarization delay unit which receives each of the optical pulses, separates the optical pulse into two optical pulses with orthogonal states of polarization, and relatively shifts the temporal position of one of the two optical pulses from that of the other optical pulse by (2n?1)T/4 (n is a natural number) to generate light in which each pulse is polarized orthogonally to a succeeding pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Fujiwara, Mitsuhiro Teshima, Noboru Takachio, Katsumi Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 6958467
    Abstract: A chirp measurement apparatus includes a splitting section for splitting input signal light to two paths; a first dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of +D (?0) at a used wavelength, and a second dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of ?D (?0) at the used wavelength; first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections for receiving the signal light beams passing through the first and second dispersion media, and for outputting electric signals with the intensities proportional to nth power of the intensities of the signal light beams, where n is greater than one; and a difference detecting section for computing a difference between the electric signals output from the first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections, and for outputting a differential signal corresponding to the difference as a chirp signal of the input signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Inui, Kunihiko Mori, Kohichi Robert Tamura
  • Patent number: 6956700
    Abstract: A wavelength dispersion compensating apparatus of the invention comprises: a VIPA plate capable to output incident lights at different angles according to wavelengths; a variable dispersion diffraction grating which can angularly disperse the lights of respective wavelengths output from the VIPA plate, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of angular dispersion in the VIPA plate and also capable to change an amount of the angular dispersion; a light return apparatus which condenses the output lights from the variable dispersion diffraction grating and reflects them by a mirror, to return them to the VIPA plate side; and a stage rotation mechanism which rotates a movable stage on which the lens and the mirror are mounted, according to a diffraction angle in the variable dispersion diffraction grating, so as to enable wavelength dispersion and wavelength dispersion slope to be given to a WDM light, to be changed independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Nobuaki Mitamura, Shinji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6952512
    Abstract: A chromatic-dispersion compensator comprises a plurality of dispersive elements (Q in number. Q?2) each exhibiting a dispersion characteristic D (?) that varies substantially as a polynominal function of wavelength, the polynomial function being of an order (P?2) greater than 0, the dispersion characteristics being displaced in wavelength relative to each other such that the compensator has a net Pth-order dispersion characteristic Dp that is non-zero and does not vary substantially with wavelength an operating bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Michael C. Parker, Stuart D. Walker
  • Patent number: 6941045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a new type of colorless Mach-Zehnder-interferometer (MZI)-based tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) that has only three MZI stages (two in a reflective version) and two adjustable couplers which are responsive to one control voltage, making it compact, low power, and simple to fabricate, test, and operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Richard Doerr
  • Patent number: 6941079
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power of WDM channels in a WDM receiver. A preamplifier is provided prior to a demultiplexer in the WDM receiver chain. The gain of the preamplifier may be controlled based on power measurements made on individual WDM channels. A filter with controllable tilt may be employed to compensate for amplifier gain tilt and assure that all of the WDM channels remain within the dynamic range of the photodetector and receiver electronics. This provides improved bit error rate performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianpaolo Barozzi, Cinzia Ferrari, Stefano Piciaccia
  • Patent number: 6934069
    Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensation device selectively delays a respective portion of spectral sections of each respective optical channel of an optical WDM input signal to compensate each optical channel for dispersion compensation, and includes a spatial light modulator having a micromirror device with a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. The micromirrors tilt or flip between first and second positions in a “digital” fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A collimator, diffraction gratings, and Fourier lens collectively collimate, disperse and focus the optical input channels onto the array of micromirrors. Each optical channel is focused onto micromirrors of the micromirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. To compensate an optical channel for chromatic dispersion, a portion of the spectral sections of each channel is delayed a desired time period by tilting an array of mirrors (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, Jay W. Dawson, Joseph Pinto, James R. Dunphy, Michael A. Davis
  • Patent number: 6931176
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for chromatic dispersion compensation of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals within an optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) and especially within a remotely reconfigurable add/drop multiplexer (RROADM). The arrangement is especially useful in metro or regional networks where RROADMs can be dynamically reconfigured to deliver signals from any node to any other node. A dispersion compensation module (DCM) is located in the multiplexed through path of the RROADM between the drop module and the add module such that only wavelengths passing through the RROADM are compensated and shorter optical paths traversing only one span between adjacent nodes are not compensated. This allows lower cost static DCMs to be used, allows more flexibility in DCM values and allows fewer DCMs to be used while maintaining dispersion limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Tropic Networks Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Geoffrey Kelly
  • Patent number: 6928201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing controllable second-order polarization mode dispersion for fiber optic transmission systems are provided. A section of fixed high birefringent optical fiber, a polarization controller, and a variable differential group delay module are provided. The polarization controller is connected to the optical fiber section, and the variable differential group delay module is connected to the polarization controller. The variable differential group delay module is controlled to vary the second-order polarization mode dispersion values at an output of the high birefringent optical fiber section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Sunrise Telecom Incorporated
    Inventor: Ke-Cai Zeng
  • Patent number: 6925262
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and system for compensating chromatic dispersion. The method includes the steps of generating WDM signal light by wavelength division multiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths, transmitting the WDM signal light by an optical fiber transmission line, and receiving the WDM signal light transmitted by the optical fiber transmission line. The receiving step includes the steps of detecting chromatic dispersion related to at least one of the plural optical signals, and providing a variable dispersion compensator whose chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope are controlled so that the detected chromatic dispersion is reduced. According to this method, waveform degradation due to dispersion can be compensated with high accuracy in consideration of dispersion and dispersion slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Ooi, George Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6925265
    Abstract: Soliton or soliton-like optical pulses with characteristics adapted to propagation in an optical line for RZ type transmission are generated by modulating a continuous optical signal (1) by means of a modulator (2) which is substantially devoid of chirping, in which the modulator drive signal comprises at least one frequency (4) and one harmonic (5) thereof superimposed on each other (7). A high-speed optical transmission system is rendered independent of the type of transmitter or of signals sent to it if it comprises an adaptation unit (32) receiving the original optical pulses (30) and capable of generating corresponding pulsed signals (63) of RZ type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Photonics Italy S.r.L.
    Inventors: Pierluigi Franco, Giorgio Grasso, Matjaz Vidmar
  • Patent number: 6912362
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a compact dispersion slope equalizer by which it is possible to simultaneously recover distorted waveforms of WDM signals by dispersion slope of DSF or NZ-DSF at 1.55 ?m band, and to compensate for the dispersion of various fiber transmission lines having various dispersion values and variation of dispersion value caused by the temperature change or the like. WDM signals distorted by the dispersion slope of the fiber are introduced into an input waveguide, and are demultiplexed by a wavelength demultiplexer into each wavelength component, and pass through lattice-form optical circuits, transversal-form optical circuits, or the combination of these circuits. The dispersion slope of the signals is compensated for by these circuits. The recovered signals are multiplexed by a wavelength multiplexer, and the multiplexed light is outputted at an output waveguide. Arrayed-waveguide gratings can be used as the wavelength demultiplexer and multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Takiguchi, Katsunari Okamoto, Takashi Goh
  • Patent number: 6909537
    Abstract: Light input from a single-mode fiber is collected into linear light beams by a line focuser, and collected on a VIPA element. A light beam output from the VIPA element is made to pass through a space filter having a predetermined transmission loss characteristic, and focused on a mirror with a focusing lens. The light is reflected by the mirror, again passes through the space filter via the focusing lens, enters the VIPA element, and again enters the single-mode fiber via the line focuser. The insertion loss wavelength characteristic of the wavelength dispersion compensator using the VIPA element is optimized by being superimposed on the transmission loss characteristic of the space filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahata, Nobuaki Mitamura
  • Patent number: 6909851
    Abstract: An apparatus which compensates for dispersion in an optical transmission line. The apparatus includes a fixed dispersion compensator and a variable dispersion compensator. The fixed dispersion compensator has a fixed dispersion amount and coarsely compensates for the dispersion in the transmission line. The variable dispersion compensator has a variable dispersion amount and finely compensates for the dispersion in the transmission line. The fixed and variable dispersion compensators can be located at many positions. For example, one may be in a transmitter and the other may be in a receiver. Both may be in the transmitter and/or the receiver. One may be in either the transmitter or the receiver, with the other in an optical repeater positioned along the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: George Ishikawa