Abstract: An optical communication module includes a laser that emits laser light, and an electro-absorber that absorbs the laser light, which is emitted from the laser, according to a voltage modulated based on a modulating signal and a bias voltage. The optical communication module detects data that varies correlatively with the temperature of the electro-absorber, and sets the bias voltage, which is associated with the detected data, on the basis of relational data specifying at least the relationship between the bias voltage and the data.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical amplifier includes determining a gain of the optical amplifier and providing a modulator drive signal to an optical signal source. The modulator drive signal is a function of the gain of the optical amplifier. The method also includes producing an input optical signal using the optical signal source. The input optical signal includes a first plurality of pulses, each of the first plurality of pulses having an amplitude related to the modulator drive signal. The method further includes coupling the input optical signal to the optical amplifier and amplifying the input optical signal using the optical amplifier to produce an output optical signal including a second plurality of pulses.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a tunable optical frequency comb generator. The comb generator includes an interferometer, and an optical feed-back loop waveguide.

Abstract: An optical modulator device directly-coupled to a driver circuit device. The optical modulator device can include a transmission line electrically coupled to an internal VDD, a first electrode electrically coupled to the transmission line, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode and the transmission line. A wave guide can be operably coupled to the first and second electrodes, and a driver circuit device can be directly coupled to the transmission line and the first and second electrodes. This optical modulator and the driver circuit device can be configured without back termination.

Abstract: A first clock modulator branches a light beam, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a first clock, and causes interference of the light beams. A second clock modulator branches a light beam from the first clock modulator and synchronized with the first clock, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a second clock, and causes interference of the light beams. A third clock modulator branches a light beam from the first clock modulator and inversely synchronized with the first clock, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a third clock, and causes interference of the light beams. The second clock and the first clock have identical cycles and differing phases. The third clock and the second clock have phases that differ by a 1/2 cycle. Four data modulators modulate the light beams from the clock modulators.

Abstract: The I phase modulator modulates a phase based on the bias voltage in which a first modulation signal and a first pilot signal are inherent and the Q phase modulator modulates a phase based on the bias voltage in which a second pilot signal different from the first pilot signal and a second modulation signal are inherent. A time-average power synchronous detection unit detects an optical power at a timing at which the positivity and negativity of the voltages of both pilot signals become the same, and an optical power when the positivity and negativity of the voltages of both pilot signals are opposite. The bias voltage control unit controls the bias voltage so that the difference between both the optical powers becomes small based on the detection result of the time-average power synchronous detection unit.

Abstract: A system for transporting a plurality of analog and/or digital signals over an optical fiber can include one or more master modems for modulating digital signals and/or RF inserters modulating video signals. The RF signals from the modem(s)/RF inserters are up-converted resulting in frequency bands that are non-overlapping and are spaced apart within a single sub-octave. The sub-octave signal is then converted into an optical signal and directed onto an end of an optical fiber. At the downstream end of the optical fiber, the received optical signal is converted to an RF signal at an optical receiver. The RF signal is then filtered, down-converted and directed to a selected coaxial distribution unit. From the coaxial distribution unit, the RF signal is demodulated, e.g. at a slave modem, to recover the initial analog and/or digital signal.

Abstract: A system may include one or more devices that may be used to simultaneously measure and modulate phases of a many-channel optical system relative to a high frequency optical carrier. This device may be constructed using analog-to-digital converters, comparators, and distributed timers. A digital processor may be used to recover phase information from the measurements and to calculate an error compared to desired phase. The processor may then apply feedback to a phase modulator to correct the phase.

Abstract: An optical modulation device includes a generating circuit that generates a low-frequency signal, an average value of amplitude as an alternating-current component of the low-frequency signal being different from a center value of the amplitude of the low-frequency signal, a superimposing unit that superimposes the low-frequency signal on a data signal, an optical modulator that modulates, using the superimposition of the low-frequency signal by the superimposing unit, light from a light source and outputs a light signal, a calculating circuit that calculates an amplitude average value and an amplitude center value of a low-frequency component obtained from the light signal output by the optical modulator, and a controller that controls a bias voltage of the optical modulator such that the amplitude average value is brought closer to the amplitude center value of the frequency component calculated by the calculating circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading, detecting, and monitoring channel-associated signals are provided. Channel-associated signals are identified with spread spectrum codes in the electrical domain, and after being modulated to an optical service signal at respective loading points separately, the channel-associated identification signals are transmitted in the optical channel along with the optical signal. At any downstream detecting point, passing optical signals can be converted through photoelectric conversion, and the channel-associated identification signals are de-spread. By detecting the channel-associated signals, it is possible to learn about whether the upstream loading point work normally, whether the optical channel operates normally, etc., and thereby to find possible failures, solve problems, and monitor quality parameters of optical signals in real time, and improve reliability of the optical signal transmission.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for modulation of an optical signal with a data signal, said apparatus (6) comprising a configurable digital encoding unit (8) encoding data of said data signal to provide an encoded modulation control signal (EMCS), and a signal modulation unit (9) modulating said optical signal with respect to its signal phase and/or signal amplitude in orthogonal polarization directions in response to said encoded modulation control signal (EMCS) to generate a multi-dimensional optical signal vector.

Abstract: A DP-QPSK optical transmitter includes an outer MZM comprising a first parent MZM comprising a first child MZM and a second child MZM that modulates a QPSK signal with a first polarization. A second parent MZM includes a first child MZM and a second child MZM that modulates a QPSK signal with a second polarization. The outer Mach-Zehnder modulator multiplexes the first and second polarization embedded into a dual-polarization QPSK signal generation. A first optical detector detects the QPSK signal generated by the first parent MZM with the first polarization. A second optical detector optical detects the QPSK signal generated by the second parent Mach-Zehnder modulator with the second polarization. A bias control circuit generates bias signals on at least one output that stabilize the DP-QPSK signal in response to signals generated by the first and second optical detector using electrical time division multiplexing.

Abstract: An optical transmitter is disclosed. An optical modulator outputs an optical signal by modulating light being input, and has an optical absorption characteristic which changes a degree of optical absorption depending on a bias voltage being applied and includes a first characteristic region and a second characteristic region in which the degree of the optical absorption is greater than the first characteristic region. An power source applies an electric field generated by applying a predetermined shutdown bias voltage corresponding to the second characteristic region to electrodes provided in two interference optical guides formed in the optical modulator, when an output of the optical signal from the optical modulator is shut down to be less than or equal to a desired amount.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for modulating an optical signal are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising: phase modulating a slave laser which is injection locked to a master laser to produce an arcsine phase modulated optical signal, and combining the arcsine phase modulated optical signal with an output optical signal from the master laser.

Abstract: A multi-mode optoelectronic oscillator (MM-OEO) includes an OEO cavity having an input for receiving an RF signal and an RF output. The OEO cavity includes a) a first laser having a first laser output, a second laser having a second laser output, b) a modulator having i) a first input coupled to the first laser output, ii) a second input coupled to the second laser output, iii) a third input, iv) a first modulator output, and v) a second modulator output, c) a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) having an input coupled to the first modulator output and having an SOA amplified output, d) a photodetector coupled to the SOA amplified output and having an output, and e) a coupler having an input coupled to the photodetector output and having a first output coupled to the third modulator input and a second output, whereby an amplified RF signal is produced at the OEO RF output.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a tunable optical dispersion compensator (TODC) comprising a first beam displacer on an optical path, wherein the first beam displacer separates an optical signal into a first beam and a second beam, and one or more polarizing beam splitters on the optical path, wherein the one or more polarizing beam splitters keep the first beam and the second beam on the optical path. The TODC also comprises one or more etalons on the optical path, wherein the one or more etalons are tunable to introduce a group delay in the first beam and the second beam, and a reflecting mirror on the optical path, wherein the reflecting mirror returns the optical signal back along the optical path. The TODC further comprises a second beam displacer, wherein the second beam displacer combines the first beam and the second beam into an output optical signal.

Abstract: An optical transmitter includes: a selection circuit; a signal processing circuit; an optical modulator; and a control circuit. The selection circuit selects signal components on the sides of the maximum and minimum values in a multivalued electrical signal for modulation of a transmitting signal. The signal processing circuit generates a multivalued electrical signal into which the transmitting signal is converted by a combination of a superimposed signal that a low-frequency wave is superimposed on the signal components and a signal having a plurality of intermediate amplitude values on which the low-frequency wave is not superimposed. The optical modulator modulates a carrier light on the basis of the multivalued electrical signal. The control circuit controls the reference amplitude value or amplitude of the multivalued electrical signal on the basis of the low-frequency components contained in a modulated optical signal.

Abstract: An infrared transmitter is obtained that transmits a signal by changing a luminance of an infrared emitting LED, the infrared transmitter including: a transmission signal generating unit; a biasing voltage generating unit that generates a biasing voltage according to a magnitude of a transmission signal; a signal/voltage mixing unit that mixes the transmission signal and the biasing voltage; and a voltage-current conversion unit that converts a voltage into a current, in which the LED is driven by the current obtained by the conversion in the voltage-current conversion unit, so that power consumption efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: A method of phase modulating optical radiation by the steps of phase modulating the optical radiation by using a modulator having an extinction ratio in order to provide a multilevel phase shift key signal, and applying to each optical pulse a phase-shift having an absolute value depending on the extinction ratio and a sign depending, for each of the optical pulses, on the respective optical phase value. An apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling bias point of DQPSK demodulator are disclosed. The method comprises: step 1: respectively applying first and second bias voltages to I-path and Q-path, and applying identical pilot voltage signals to I-path and Q-path (S202); step 2: executing filtering processing on I-path and Q-path differential current signals collected by balance receiver and determining ?Iand ?Q (S204); step 3: performing feedback control to first and second bias voltages respectively according to ?I and ?Q so that ?I and ?Q respectively reaches expected bias point values of I-path and Q-path (S206); executing step 2 and 3 cyclically at preset regular intervals (S208), so that ?I and ?Q remains consistently the expected bias point values of I-path and Q-path. The solution enables bias point of DQPSK demodulator to be locked at any expected bias point value, facilitates realization of digitization, and is not easily influenced.

Abstract: Provided is an optical module. The optical module includes: an optical bench having a first trench of a first depth and a second trench of a second depth that is less than the first depth; a lens in the first trench of the optical bench; at least one semiconductor chip in the second trench of the optical bench; and a flexible printed circuit board covering an upper surface of the optical bench except for the first and second trenches, wherein the optical bench is a metal optical bench or a silicon optical bench.

Abstract: This invention relates to external modulator monitoring device and method for monitoring an external modulator. The external modulator monitoring device includes a mixing unit for mixing optical signals modulated by the external modulator and optical signals not modulated by the external modulator, so as to obtain multiple branches of mixed optical signals; an electrical differential unit for converting the multiple branches of mixed optical signals into corresponding multiple branches of electrical signals, and performing a differential processing on voltages of the multiple branches of electrical signals to obtain differential signals; and a power detection unit for detecting power of the differential signals.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a tunable optical frequency comb generator. The comb generator includes an interferometer, and an optical feed-back loop waveguide.

Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system including on-off-keying (OOK) transmitters, for example, may be upgraded to include advanced modulation format transmitters, such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) transmitters. Rather than replace all the OOK transmitters with QPSK transmitters at once, each OOK transmitter is replaced with a lower rate modulation format transmitter, such as a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) transmitter, as capacity needs increase. The BPSK transmitters supply (BPSK) optical signals that are more tolerant of noise caused by cross phase modulation (XPM) induced by OOK signals. Accordingly, such BPSK optical signals have fewer associated data detection errors in the receiver. Moreover, BPSK modulated optical signals induce little XPM-related noise in co-propagating QPSK modulated optical signals.

Abstract: An optical signal transmitter includes: first outer modulator to generate first modulated optical signal, the first outer modulator including a pair of optical paths and a first phase shifter to give phase difference to the pair of optical paths; second outer modulator to generate second modulated optical signal, the second outer modulator including a pair of optical paths and a second phase shifter to give phase difference to the pair of optical paths; combiner to generate polarization multiplexed optical signal by combining the first and second modulated optical signals; phase controller to control the phase difference by the first phase shifter to A??? and control the phase difference by the second phase shifter to A+??; and power controller to control at least one of the first and second outer modulators based on AC component of the polarization multiplexed optical signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to external modulator monitoring device and method for monitoring an external modulator. The external modulator monitoring device includes a mixing unit for mixing optical signals modulated by the external modulator and optical signals not modulated by the external modulator, so as to obtain multiple branches of mixed optical signals; an electrical differential unit for converting the multiple branches of mixed optical signals into corresponding multiple branches of electrical signals, and performing a differential processing on voltages of the multiple branches of electrical signals to obtain differential signals; and a power detection unit for detecting power of the differential signals.

Abstract: To efficiently apply jitter to an optical signal using a simple configuration, provided is an optical signal output apparatus that outputs an optical pulse pattern signal including jitter, the optical signal generating apparatus comprising a light source section that outputs an optical signal having an optical frequency corresponding to a frequency control signal; an optical modulation section that modulates the optical signal output by the light source section, according to a designated pulse pattern; and an optical jitter generating section that delays an optical signal passed by the optical modulation section according to the optical frequency, to apply jitter to the optical signal.

Abstract: An optical communication system for generating and transmitting a modulated optical signal in which light emitted by a light source is modulated by an optical modulator in accordance with an input electrical signal. A bias signal generator applies a bias electrical signal to bias the optical modulator at a bias angle away from quadrature. The bias signal generator monitors the input electrical signal and adjusts the applied bias electrical signal in dependence on the input electrical signal. The system further includes a receiver which may include an equalizer coupled to the photodetector of the receiver.

Abstract: This invention relates to external modulator monitoring device and method for monitoring an external modulator. The external modulator monitoring device includes a mixing unit for mixing optical signals modulated by the external modulator and optical signals not modulated by the external modulator, so as to obtain multiple branches of mixed optical signals; an electrical differential unit for converting the multiple branches of mixed optical signals into corresponding multiple branches of electrical signals, and performing a differential processing on voltages of the multiple branches of electrical signals to obtain differential signals; and a power detection unit for detecting power of the differential signals.

Abstract: Optical phase modulators are disposed in separate arms of an optical interferometer for forming short optical pulses. The optical phase modulators are driven by signals from an electrical nonlinear transmission line (NLTL). A time delay (typically on the order of the NLTL fall time) is introduced between the NLTL signals in the two arms of the interferometer. With this arrangement, the interferometer provides short optical pulses at its output. In one experiment, 70 ps switching was demonstrated using discrete LiNbO3 traveling wave electro-optic modulators and commercially available NLTLs capable of delivering a 35 ps falling edge. A preferable approach is to integrate the NLTLs with the phase modulators, to further improve bandwidth. This fast switch can be used for various applications, such as implementing an Optical Time Division Multiplexing (OTDM) network architecture, and providing arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) capability.

Abstract: Problems To provide a method for evaluating characteristics of MZ interferometers in an optical modulator having a plurality of MZ interferometers. Means for Solving Problems When an optical modulator includes a plurality of MZ interferometers, the 0-degree component contains a signal derived from an MZ interferometer other than the MZ interferometers for evaluating the characteristic. For this, it is impossible to accurately evaluate the characteristic of the MZ interferometers. The present invention does not use the 0-degree component normally having the highest intensity. That is, the characteristic of the MZ interferometers are evaluated by using a side band intensity of the component other than the 0-degree component.

Abstract: A method is provided for setting a timing of phase modulation by a target phase modulator within an optical transmitter which performs 2n order phase shift keying, n being a natural number equal to or more than two. The method is provided with: feeding a specific pattern to the optical transmitter to allow the xPSK transmitter to emit an optical carrier in accordance with the specific pattern; receiving the optical carrier by a delay interferometer; converting a pair of light signals emitted from constructive and destructive outputs of the delay interferometer into an electrical signal; detecting a peak to peak value of the electrical signal; and setting the timing of the phase modulation by the target phase modulator so as to minimize the peak to peak value of the electrical signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical modulator control system implemented in an optical burst mode transmitter, said control system comprising means for measuring a plurality of optical power sample values and associated optical wavelength data values from a modulator at a first sampling rate, wherein an average power table is generated from said values for each sample period and stored in a memory. The control system also comprises means for performing a control error calculation from two or more stored average power tables at a second sampling rate to calculate a single error value to provide gain and/or bias control signals, wherein the second sample rate is sampled at a slower rate than the first sample rate. The control system described optimises the modulator performance over temperature and lifetime in an optical network.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting telecommunication signals through a fiber optic, with suppression of second and third order distortions, requires a signal processor for generating a sub-octave broadband signal. An Electro-Absorption Modulator (EAM) is provided to modulate the sub-octave broadband signal into an optical signal ?. And, a DC offset voltage is used to alter optical output power in the optical signal ?. The sub-octave broadband transmission then minimizes second order distortions of the optical signal ?, and the DC offset minimizes third order distortions when the optical signal ? is transmitted on the fiber optic.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes a plurality of delay circuits and an inverter. The plurality of delay circuits delay branched driving signals. The inverter inverts at least one of the branched driving signals. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits is at least one variable delay circuit delaying a variable amount of delay. The output driving signal is output by combining the inverted signal of the branched driving signal output via at least one inverter and at least one non-inverted signal of the branched driving signals output from the delay circuits.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Radio Frequency (RF) drive level control systems and methods for an Electro-Optic (EO) M-ary Phase-Shift Keying (M-PSK) phase modulator. Specifically, an M-PSK drive waveform is tightly controlled for maximum symmetry in the associated constellation. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure includes an M-PSK transmitter, an M-PSK electro-optic phase modulator, and phase modulation method that each control RF drive level based upon a carrier suppression ratio defined as a measure of ratio of a modulated time-averaged E-field to the magnitude of the E-field. In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier suppression ratio is measured based on a modulation depth measurement.

Abstract: An optical transceiver configured to perform filtering of digital diagnostics prior to the filtered results being made accessible to a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as a “host”) that is communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes sensor(s) that measures analog operational parameter signals such as temperature and supply voltage. The analog signals are each converted to a plurality of digital samples by analog to digital converter(s). A processor executes microcode that causes the optical transceiver to perform filtering on the various samples. The optical transceiver may then make the filtered result accessible to the host.

Abstract: A communications device includes a transmitter device including first and second optical sources, a first optical coupler coupled to the first and second optical sources, and a first modulator coupled to the first optical coupler and to modulate a combined carrier signal including the first and second optical carrier signals with an RF input signal. The communications device includes a receiver device having a second modulator to further modulate the modulated combined carrier signal with an LO signal, a FM-PM discriminator coupled to the second modulator and to convert the modulated combined carrier signal to an intensity modulated combined carrier signal based upon the LO signal, a second optical coupler coupled to the FM-PM discriminator and to generate first and second intensity modulated carrier signals, and an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the second optical coupler and to generate an IF signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical transmitter that includes an optical modulator configured to modulate an optical signal with a digital data stream, and a heater configured to apply heat to the optical modulator. The optical transmitter also includes an optical receiver configured to receive the modulated optical signal and to convert the modulated optical signal into a received digital data stream. A circuit is configured to compute bit errors in the received digital data stream by comparing the received digital data stream with the digital data stream, and control the heater based on the computed bit errors.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and method for modulating digital data onto an optical carrier to produce a modulated optical carrier in which symbol-modulated optical signals of orthogonal polarizations are temporally interleaved and adapted to be processed by electronic time-division demultiplexing to recover the digital data modulated onto the orthogonal polarizations of the optical signals.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a modulator that modulates an input light of light by using an input signal. The optical modulator further includes a compensation circuit that compensates the phase of a signal light in accordance with an input current, the signal light being the input light modulated by the modulator. The optical modulator further includes a detector that detects the difference between the phase of the signal light compensated by the compensation circuit and the phase of an input signal that is input to the modulator. The optical modulator further includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts, in accordance with the phase difference detected by the detector, the input current that is input to the compensation circuit.

Abstract: A simple and effective all-optical system, producing a multilevel coded optical signal based on the M-ASK technology and by the minimized equipment. The novel all-optical modulation technique for optical M-ASK generation is based on nonlinear interaction between optical signals, say between N 2-ASK modulated pump signals having extinction ratio ER1 and a single 2-ASK modulated optical probe signal having extinction ratio ER2. According to the invention, a 4-ASK optical signal can be obtained using just a single binary modulated pump optical signal and a single binary modulated probe optical signal.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light source, a controller that supplies control information to the light source and controls an output level of the light source, a monitor that outputs an operation state of the optical output as a monitor output, and an auxiliary controller that records the monitor output and the control information. When the controller stops supplying the control information, the auxiliary controller outputs the control information to the light source in accordance with the relation between the recorded monitor output and the recorded control information.

Abstract: The disclosed device and method include varying phases of two data signals at a first predetermined frequency, performing multi-level phase modulation of a light based on the two data signals whose phases are varied at the first predetermined frequency, extracting a component having the first predetermined frequency from an optical signal subjected to the phase modulation, and controlling the phases of the two data signals based on the component extracted from the optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for efficient optical amplification and transmission of a data-encoded optical signal within a networking device, such as a transmitter or receiver. In various embodiments of the invention, an optical duobinary signal or hybrid duobinary signal is generated and shaped in preparation for amplification of the optical signal by an SOA. The deleterious impact of SOA fast gain dynamics may be reduced by taking advantage of characteristics of a duobinary or hybrid duobinary signal (e.g., a relatively lower pulse amplitude and no phase encoded data) and shaping the optical duobinary pulse (e.g., smoothing amplitude swings within the signal and spectral compression).

Abstract: An optical modulation device including waveform shapers that waveform-shape input data signals in synchronism with a rising or falling timing based on comparison with a reference level of an input clock signal, a multi-level phase modulator that generates a multi-level-phase-modulated optical signal based on the data signals waveform-shaped by the plurality of waveform shapers, and outputs the generated optical signal, and a level ratio controller that varies a relative level ratio of the reference level to an amplitude level of the clock signal input to the waveform shapers, based on the optical signal output from the multi-level phase modulator.

Abstract: A digital data transmission device is provided comprising optical waveguide architecture, a sideband generator, a modulation controller, an optical filter, a data mapping unit, and a phase controller. The optical waveguide architecture is configured to direct an optical signal through the sideband generator and the optical filter. The sideband generator comprises an electrooptic interferometer comprising first and second waveguide arms. The modulation controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal to drive the sideband generator at a control voltage that is substantially larger than V? to generate optical frequency sidebands about a carrier frequency of the optical signal. The optical filter is configured to discriminate between the optical frequency sidebands and the optical carrier frequency such that optical sidebands of interest can be directed through the optical waveguide architecture as an optical millimeter wave signal.

Abstract: A polarized-wave-multiplexing optical transmitter including: an optical combiner generating a polarized-wave-multiplexed optical signal by polarized-wave-multiplexing a first optical modulation signal and a second optical modulation signal; an optical power fluctuation portion fluctuating optical power of the first optical modulation signal and the second optical modulation signal periodically; a total-optical-power detection portion detecting fluctuation amount of total optical power of the polarized-wave-multiplexed optical signal; and an optical power controller reducing an optical power difference between the first optical modulation signal and the second optical modulation signal based on detection result of the total-optical-power detection portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling bias in an optical modulator is disclosed. The method is particularly applicable to controlling multi-wavelength modulators and wavelength-tunable transmitters. At a calibration stage, a desired optical performance of the modulator is achieved, and an amplitude of a peak-to-peak variation of the output optical signal at a pre-determined amount of dither is stored in a memory as a reference. At operating stage, a controller of the optical modulator adjusts a bias voltage of the modulator until the measured peak-to-peak optical signal variation matches the reference value stored at the calibration stage. For multi-wavelength modulators and tunable transmitters, the calibration is repeated at each wavelength, and corresponding peak-to-peak optical signal variations are stored in the memory.

Abstract: An optical transmitter for generating a modulated optical signal to be transmitted over fiber optical link. The transmitter includes: an optical source for producing an optical signal; an optically linearized modulator (OLM) as external modulator for modulating the optical signal produced by the optical source with an information carrying signal. The external modulator includes a first input port for receiving a first DC bias signal, and a second input port for receiving a second DC bias signal. The optical transmitter further includes a pilot tone generator for generating a first pilot signal to be applied to the first input port and a second pilot signal to be applied to the second input port. The first and second pilot signals are capable of producing distortion products in the modulated optical signal.