Abstract: A preamplifier circuit, a clock switching circuit, and an optical receiver are provided that include a preamplifier that controls a bandwidth for conducting amplification on an input signal by varying a feedback resistance according to a control signal; a control signal generating part that determines the band of the output signal of the preamplifier to generate the control signal; and a correction signal generating part that generates a correction signal for correcting the control signal; wherein the correction signal corrects the control signal to adjust the feedback resistance. Accordingly, even when the number of rises and falls of an optical input signal in a given time period is less than a predetermined number range, the control signal may be properly generated to successfully conduct band control.

Abstract: An optical receiver for receiving an optical differential phase shift keyed signal has an optical component sensitive to the optical phase of the signal, such as an interferometer, a device arranged to generate a control signal by non linear limiting of an output of the optical component, such as an RF amplifier arranged to operate in a region near saturation point, and a phase controller for tuning a phase response of the optical component to the received signal according to the control signal.

Abstract: An identification level control method and an optical receiver are disclosed to determine an optimal identification level in a simple structure without clock extraction. In the identification level control method, an identification level supplied to a limiter amplifier is changed from a lower bound to an upper bound thereof and is stored together with an output average of the limiter amplifier. Then, a first average and a second average are set based on the output average. A first identification level corresponding to the first average and a second identification level corresponding to the second average are obtained, and an optimal identification level is computed based on the first identification level and the second identification level, and is supplied to the limiter amplifier.

Abstract: The invention discloses a digital adjusting method for an optical receiver module, and the method implements real-time monitor of parameters, on-line adjustment and non-linear compensation. The digital optical receiver module includes elements as follow: a voltage output circuit of optical power detection 24, a DC/DC voltage boost circuit 22 and a bias voltage adjusting unit which is consisted of an optical-electronic conversion circuit 21; a digital adjusting unit 25, an analog-digital converter (A/D converter) 26 and a memory 27. The digital adjusting unit 25 makes on-line adjustment and implements temperature compensation and dark current compensation of the optical receiver module. The A/D converter 26 monitors the optical power, the working temperature and the bias voltage of the optical detector in real time. The memory 27 stores parameters of the optical receiver module for comparison with a detected optical power and measured temperature etc. and for on-line interrogation.

Abstract: The inventors propose herein a switch fabric architecture that allows broadcasting and fast channel access in the ns-range. In various embodiments of the present invention, 10 Gb/s receiver modules are based on a novel heterodyne receiver and detection technique, which is tolerant to moderate wavelength drifts of a local oscillator. A gain clipped electrical amplifier is used in the novel receiver as a rectifier for bandpass signal recovery.

Abstract: Provided is a burst mode optical receiver considering a characteristic of an extinction ratio of a received optical signal is provided. By using a peak detector considering a characteristic of an extinction ratio, top and bottom peak voltages of actual burst packets can be precisely detected while not being affected by a DC offset corresponding to an extinction ratio even though burst packets having a DC offset corresponding to the extinction ratio are received. Accordingly, waveform distortion of a signal output from the burst mode optical receiver can be minimized.

Abstract: An optical receiver having a photodetector, amplifier, feedback loop, and output circuit is disclosed. The photodetector generates a current between first and second nodes in response to being illuminated with light. The amplifier has an input connected to the first node and an output connected to a third node. The feedback path connects the third node to the first node, and includes a diode in series with a circuit element having an impedance greater than a predetermined value, the diode is connected between the first and fourth nodes. The output circuit is connected to the fourth node and provides an output signal to an external circuit. The output circuit can be configured to provide an output signal that is proportional to the logarithm of the intensity of the light that illuminates the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical receiver includes a light-receiving part and a control part. The light-receiving part includes an APD, a PIN-PD, and a branching optical device. First signal light is incident on the light-receiving part and is divided into second signal light and third signal light which are incident on the APD and the PIN-PD, respectively, by the branching optical device. Due to this structure, the third signal light is incident on the PIN-PD without the quantity thereof being varied depending on the polarization state of the first signal light. The control part generates a supply voltage at which a desired avalanche multiplication factor is obtained in the APD on the basis of the output current from the PIN-PD. According to the above-described structure, the avalanche multiplication factor of the APD is accurately controlled on the basis of the output current of the PIN-PD.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting beam power generated by a plurality of light sources, using a single device. The apparatus includes a light-receiving unit that receives the beam power generated by one of a plurality of light sources, and an amplifying unit that selects a gain, amplifies the beam power received by the light-receiving unit according to the selected gain, and outputs the beam power amplified as a detected beam power. According to the apparatus and method, received beam power (or amplification gain) is amplified by a gain determined according to the characteristics of the respective light sources. Thus, it is possible to provide the detected beam power in consideration of a sufficient dynamic range for the each light source, thereby realizing effective APC.

Abstract: Branches are grouped into a group 1 including first and second branches, and a group 2 including third and fourth branches. The signal after being passed through a dual pin photodiode in one branch included in the group 1 and being at the earlier stage of a CDR circuit is obtained. Also, from the later stage of the CDR circuit in the other branch in the group 1 is obtained. The obtained signals are passed through low pass filters, and an average value over a plurality of symbols is obtained. The signal from the earlier stage of the CDR circuit is multiplied by the signal from the later stage, and they are averaged. The obtained value reflects the phase difference of the two delay interferometers in the group 1. The group 2 is monitored by using the same method.

Abstract: The discrimination phase margin monitor circuit (10) of the present invention comprises a first discrimination circuit (11 and 12) discriminating an input data signal using a clock signal extracted from the input data signal, a second discrimination circuit (13 and 14) discriminating the input data signal using a clock signal with a frequency different from that of the clock and an operation circuit (15 and 16) calculating the exclusive OR of the output signal of the first discrimination circuit and that of the second discrimination circuit and obtaining a phase margin monitor output signal by averaging the exclusive ORs.

Abstract: An optical receiver including a plurality of time delay elements and threshold decision elements configured to receive a signal representative of an optical signal. Each of the time delay elements is configured to impart an associated time delay to the signal. Each of the threshold decision elements is configured to compare the signal to a plurality of threshold levels. Each decision element outputs a signal indicative of a probability that a particular pulse of the received signal is a binary one at its associated sampling time. An optical communication system and a method of detecting a received data signal in an optical communication system are also provided.

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: A bottom level detection device is disclosed for a burst mode optical receiver. The receiver includes a converter for converting a burst mode signal into a voltage signal and an automatic gain controller for automatically controlling a gain of the converter. The bottom level detection device detects a bottom level of an output signal from the converter and controls the automatic gain controller on the basis of the detected bottom level. The bottom level detection device includes an amplification circuit for receiving the output signal from the converter at its first input terminal and a fed-back output signal from the device at its second input terminal, respectively, and amplifying a difference between the received signals, a detector for detecting a bottom level of an output signal from the amplification circuit, and an output buffer.

Abstract: The low noise light receiver comprises a light sensor for generating a sensor signal, the sensor signal comprising a wanted signal resulting from a light source and an interfering signal resulting from interfering light; an optical filter apparatus for reducing the interfering light; an electric filter apparatus connected to the light sensor for filtering out the interfering signal and for generating a correction signal that substantially compensates for the interfering signal; and a processing apparatus connected to the light sensor and the electric filter apparatus for processing the wanted signal in order to generate an output signal (Vout).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an optical interferometer are provided. The method includes setting a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) temperature of the optical interferometer to a room temperature, obtaining an optimal temperature using a difference between two output powers of the optical interferometer based on eye opening of the two output powers and applying an optimal heat voltage generating the optimal temperature to a delay adjuster of the optical interferometer, and performing dithering at the optimal temperature to stabilize the optimal heat voltage.

Abstract: An optical RZ transmitter comprises an optical signal source and a pair of electro-optical modulators in tandem, one arranged to receive a NRZ electrical data signal and the other a clock signal at the data rate of the data signal. The phase difference between the data signal and the clock signal is controlled by adding a first dither signal to a bias signal applied to the modulator receiving the data signal, and a second dither signal, having a different frequency, to the phase difference. The amplitude of variations in the power of the optical output signal corresponding to cross-modulation of the first and second dither signals is detected and the phase difference is controlled in response to the detected amplitude.

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: A method is provided for an equalization strategy for compensating channel distortions in a dual-polarization optical transport system wherein the received signal includes a complex signal of a first transmitted polarization component and a complex signal of a second transmitted polarization component. In a first step, a blind self recovery mode used a blind adaptation algorithm in calculating and modifying multiple complex equalizer transfer function coefficients to enables recovery of only the complex signal of the first transmitted polarization component. In a second step, equalization is performed in a training mode for recovery of the complex signals of the first and second transmitted polarization components. In a third step, equalization is performed in a data directed mode. The method is suited for a digital signal processing implementation in a coherent receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling a decision threshold voltage to an optical receiver, which is capable of automatically controlling the decision threshold voltage to the optical receiver appropriately to signal level decision on the basis of a low-frequency band signal component of an output signal from the optical receiver. The apparatus is adapted to control the level of the decision threshold voltage to the optical receiver, which converts an input optical signal into an electrical signal.

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: A transimpedance amplifier having adjustment for optical distortion in an optical communication link. The transimpedance amplifier comprises a transimpedance stage and a post amplifier stage, which has a feedback path including an optical distortion adjustment circuit.

Abstract: An optical receiver in an optical communication system, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for optimizing a decision level of a signal output from an optical receiver to obtain a minimum bit error rate (BER) by measuring output characteristics of the optical receiver and adjusting a reference voltage of the optical receiver based on a measurement result. The provided method includes measuring the strength of an electric signal at a modulated frequency out of the frequency elements of the output electric signal in the optical receiver, generating a reference voltage based on the strength data of the electric signal, inputting the reference voltage to the optical receiver and re-measuring the strength of the electric signal output from the optical receiver to determine whether the strength of the signal is minimum, and maintaining the reference voltage when the strength of the signal is minimum and adjusting the reference voltage in other cases.

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 reception error rate controller in which the settling time can be shortened at the time of feedback control by controlling the quality of a received signal when the error rate is low. The reception error rate controller identifies the received signal by comparing it with a reference value, detects the error rate of the identified signal, controls the reference value based on the error rate and further controls the quality of the received signal based on the error rate.

Abstract: The delay setting of an optical delay line interferometer (DLI) used to decode differentially encoded phase shift keyed signals (DPSK or DQPSK) is controlled using a control signal representative of the ratio Perr2/Perr1 of the rate of occurrence of double errors and the rate of occurrence of errors. The ratio Perr2/Perr1, as the delay setting of the DLI is varied, exhibits a characteristic W-shaped structure consisting of a local maximum at the optimum value and two minima adjacent to the maximum, one on each side of it. This structure is present over a wide range of signal to noise ratio and residual dispersion.

Abstract: In a receiver operable in response to a data signal, an eye aperture size is detected along a time axis by an eye aperture detection circuit and is controlled by a control circuit so that it becomes a maximum. The eye aperture detection circuit determines different decision time points of the same level arranged along a time axis and judges whether or not an error is caused to occur at each of the decision time points, so as to detect the eye aperture size and to produce detection results. The control circuit processes the detection results in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to successively vary the eye aperture size and to keep the data signal at an optimum amplitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to the distribution of a synchronization signal in an optical communication system which is inherently asynchronous. In order to accomplish a cost-efficient mechanism for transmitting a synchronization signal in such a system, the amplitude of a payload signal is modulated with the synchronization signal, whereby an amplitude-modulated payload signal is obtained. This amplitude-modulated payload signal is transmitted as an optical signal to the opposite end of an optical link, where the synchronization signal is separated from the payload signal.

Abstract: Processing a received optical signal in an optical communication network includes equalizing a received optical signal to provide an equalized signal, demodulating the equalized signal according to an m-ary modulation format to provide a demodulated signal, decoding the demodulated signal according to an inner code to provide an inner-decoded signal, and decoding the inner-decoded signal according to an outer code. Other aspects include other features such as equalizing an optical channel including storing channel characteristics for the optical channel associated with a client, loading the stored channel characteristics during a waiting period between bursts on the channel, and equalizing a received burst from the client using the loaded channel characteristics.

Abstract: An optical, multi-channel, Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) receiver demodulates multiple Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) channels using a single interferometer. This distributes expense of the interferometer over all channels of an optical signal, allowing for deployment of cost-effective, scalable, wideband, WDM DPSK systems. For example, for an 80 channel WDM link, the receiver uses a single interferometer instead of eighty interferometers and associated stabilization hardware, dramatically reducing size, weight, power, and cost. The receiver is architecturally compatible with existing interferometer technologies so previous development and qualification efforts can be leveraged. This allows for expedited technology insertion into existing optical communications networks, including terrestrial and space-based optical networks.

Abstract: A cosite interference rejection system allows cancellation of large interfering signals with an optical cancellation subsystem. The rejection system includes an interference subsystem coupled to a transmit system, where the interference subsystem weights a sampled transmit signal based on a feedback signal such that the weighted signal is out of phase with the sampled transmit signal. The optical cancellation subsystem is coupled to the interference subsystem and a receive antenna. The optical cancellation subsystem converts an optical signal into a desired receive signal based on an interfering coupled signal and the weighted signal. The weighted signal is therefore used to drive the optical cancellation subsystem. The rejection system further includes a feedback loop for providing the feedback signal to the interference subsystem based on the desired receive signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an infrared remote control receiver comprising a photo diode for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal, a semiconductor signal processing device for receiving the electrical from the photo diode, eliminating noise components from the electrical signal output from the photo diode and generating a pulse signal corresponding to a remote control signal transmitted from a remote control transmission device, and a micro computer for receiving the pulse signal from the semiconductor signal processing device and performing a remote control operation instructed by a user of the remote control transmission device by decoding the received pulse signal, wherein the semiconductor signal processing device is fabricated using CMOS devices fabrication processes.

Abstract: An apparatus for adaptively receiving, compensating, and transmitting data in optical fiber communication networks are provided. A receiver according to this invention includes at least one optical device for compensating distortion in a channel of an optical signal, at least one photodetector circuit for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal, at least one electronic device for further compensating the distortion in the electronic signal, a clock and data recovery circuit for generating a recovered data signal and a clock signal from the electronic signal, and a post-processing circuit.

Abstract: An Improved Signal Receiver Having Wide Band Amplification Capability is disclosed. Also disclosed is a receiver that is able to receive and reliably amplify infrared and/or other wireless signals having frequency bandwidths in excess of 40 MHz. The receiver of the present invention reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal to ?th of the prior systems. The preferred receiver eliminates both the shunting resistor and the feedback resistor on the input end by amplifing the signal in current form. Furthermore, the receiver includes transconductance amplification means for amplifying the current signal without the need for Cascode stages. Finally, the receiver includes staged amplification to amplify the current signal in stages prior to converting the signal into a voltage output.

Abstract: It is disclosed that a method and apparatus that automatically monitors each channel's optical signal-to-noise ration (OSNR) using optical filter and polarization extinction method in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme-based optical transmission systems. OSNR is simply measured using optical filter by comparing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) over the signal band, of which bandwidth has changed, while leaving signal intensity intact, with that original signal and, OSNR measurement is allowable over a wider range of OSNR by minimizing the ratio of signal to ASE over the signal band using polarization extinction method.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique for realizing low-cost optical signal waveform monitoring with improved realtimeness to be applied to signal quality monitoring in an actual optical transmission system, and a technique for stably controlling an optical transmitter/receiver and various compensators by means of this waveform monitoring. Opening/closing of a optical gate is controlled by means of a clock signal synchronized with an optical signal input from a photocoupler and having a period equal to the bit interval of data or N (N: a positive integer) times longer than the bit interval to allow each pulse of the optical signal for one bit of data to pass through the optical gate for only part of the time width of the gate. A photoelectric conversion element to which the optical signal transmitted through the optical gate for only part of the time width obtains an average light intensity of the input optical signal. Information on this average light intensity is output to a monitoring output section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating optical power are described. A system for regulating optical power includes a laser driver circuit that receives an enable/disable signal and a data modulator input. The enable/disable signal regulates asynchronous mode operation. The system also includes a laser module including a laser diode emitter and a photodiode detector. The laser module is coupled to the laser driver circuit and receives a laser bias current from the laser driver circuit. The system also includes a switch coupled to the photodiode to receive a signal from the photodiode detector. The system also includes an automatic power control (APC) feedback circuit that receives a signal from the switch and provides a laser bias current feedback signal to the laser driver circuit to compensate for power output changes in the laser diode emitter over time.

Abstract: On a chip carrier, on a printed circuit board or in a pre-amplifier circuit, a resistor or an impedance is connected to either or both of the anode side and the cathode side of a photo detector. A bypass capacitor of bias power supply for photo detector is grounded either directly or via a resistor or an impedance.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit amplifies the difference between an output voltage from a current voltage conversion circuit and a bias voltage. The current voltage conversion circuit converts a photocurrent of a photodiode which detect incoming light into a voltage. A gm-amp charges or discharges a capacity by a current corresponding to the difference between the output voltage from the amplifier circuit and a reference voltage. A field effect transistor supplies a drain current, which is controlled by voltages at the respective terminals of the capacity, to the photodiode, in order to prevent the output voltage of the amplifier circuit from being varied due to the influence of a DC photocurrent flowing in the photodiode. The gate of a field effect transistor, which is connected in parallel to a current voltage conversion resistor, has an identical voltage with the gate of the field effect transistor.

Abstract: Provided is an optical receiving device which can achieve a wide dynamic range while keeping a constant extinction ratio against the changes in the input amplitude. A signal current of a light receiving element is converted to a signal voltage by an amplifier and the gain of the amplifier is regulated by a transistor. A DC voltage corresponding to the peak value of the signal current detected by a current detection circuit is outputted to a dummy current generating circuit. The resistance value of the transistor is controlled by a control voltage, which is outputted from an amplitude control circuit according to the difference between the DC voltage and a reference voltage, thereby to set the amplitude of the signal voltage converted by the amplifier to be invariable.

Abstract: An amplitude modulated optical communication system and method are disclosed that achieve bandwidth compression by making use of an n level amplitude modulation scheme in one or more frequency bands. A soft decision decoder is disclosed that provides at least two soft slicing levels between each signal level in the multiple level transmission scheme to define an “uncertainty” region therebetween. The soft slicing levels are used to evaluate the reliability of a given bit assignment. In addition to assigning a digital value based on the received signal level, one or more soft bits are assigned indicating a “reliability” measure of the output code.

Abstract: A tunable dispersion compensator whose passband center wavelength changes when the amount of dispersion compensation is changed is suitably adjusted. The relationship between temperature for keeping the center wavelength constant and the amount of dispersion compensation is stored in advance. After controlling the amount of dispersion compensation to achieve best or optimum transmission quality, the amount of dispersion compensation is converted into temperature in accordance with the stored relationship and, based on that, the temperature is controlled to keep the center wavelength constant.

Abstract: An optical receiver controls the amplitude of a light signal at a constant level so as to be constant for improvements in the quality of signal regeneration and reliability. A modulation part modulates the amplitude of the light signal. An opto-electric conversion part converts the output signal of the modulation part into an electric signal. A gain varying part amplifies the electric signal. A control part controls the gain of the gain varying part so that a variation width of the envelope line after signal amplification becomes close to a given value. A regeneration part compares the signal after amplification with a given threshold value for signal decision.

Abstract: Link robustness, chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) immunity can be improved in fiber optical system by using a method for receiving an optical double sideband signal over an optical fiber system, comprising the steps of splitting the received optical double sideband signal into an upper sideband signal and a lower sideband signal, photodetecting the upper sideband and the lower sideband, equalizing the photodetected upper sideband signal and the lower sideband signal, and combining the equalized upper sideband signal with the equalized lower sideband signal. While PMD compensation is envisioned as a major application, one may also use the method and system for chromatic dispersion compensation or dispersion slope compensation in high bit rate systems, i.e. using dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) for coarse compensation and diversity receiver with electrical equalizer for fine tuning.

Abstract: This optical receiving device for discriminating and recovering a data signal, which results from converting an optical signal input through a dispersion equalizer into an electrical signal and amplifying it to a pre-determined amplitude, by using a clock and data recovery circuit for discriminating a data signal at the decision point controlled to achieve the optimum position controls the dispersion characteristics of a dispersion equalizer so that the error count in the recovered data signal by using a clock and data recovery circuit will be minimized by controlling the eye pattern of the data signal which has been amplified to a pre-determined amplitude.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network where an optical receiver in the optical transmission network is a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) chip. The method includes the steps of decombining on-chip a combined channel signal received from the network and then monitoring a real time bit error rate (BER) of a decombined channel signal. The determined BER is then communicated, such as through an optical service channel (OSC) to an optical transmitter source that is the source of origin of the channel signal. Based upon the determined BER, the chirp of a channel signal modulator at the optical transmitter source that generated the monitored channel signal is adjusted by, for example, adjusting its bias. The same channel signal received at the RxPIC chip can be monitored again to determine if an acceptable level for the BER has been achieved by the previous chirp adjustment.

Abstract: An optical receiver including a variable optical attenuator for controlling an optical loss value for each optical transmission line based on a predetermined optical loss value; a variable dispersion compensation module for controlling a wavelength dispersion value for each optical transmission line based on a predetermined dispersion value; an optical loss/dispersion controller for measuring the optical loss value and the wavelength dispersion value of every optical transmission line, outputting these values so that they are equal in all the optical transmission lines, and controlling the attenuator and the module based on the outputted predetermined values; a receive amplifier for receiving the optical signal whose light level is kept constant and amplifying the signal; and, a transmission line switch control module is provided for switching a working transmission line into a protection line if the optical signal level of the working line is lower than a threshold value.

Abstract: A detector outputs a detection signal indicating amplitude variation of an input frequency-multiplexed signal. An amplitude controller adjusts the amplitude of the frequency-multiplexed signal by referring to the detection signal. A modulator modulates the amplitude-adjusted frequency-multiplexed signal to produce a predetermined modulated signal. A second multiplexer multiplexes the modulated signal and the detection signal to produce a multiplexed signal. An optical transmitter converts the multiplexed signal into an optical signal, and then sends it out to an optical transmission path. An optical receiver converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal. A separator separates the modulated and detection signals from the electrical signal. A demodulator demodulates the modulated signal to output the frequency-multiplexed signal. An amplitude adjuster adjusts the amplitude of the frequency-multiplexed signal by referring to the detection signal to reproduce the original amplitude variation.

Abstract: Residual birefringence in optical fibers causes polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The invention compensates for this by using a polarization mode dispersion compensator and a polarimeter. The PMD compensator has a variable PMD that may be controlled. The output of the PMD compensator is monitored by a polarimeter. By dithering the wavelength of the optical signal, the polarimeter may provide an accurate measure of the PMD. A controller uses this measurement to control the PMD compensator. The PMD compensating scheme may also be incorporated in a wavelength division multiplexed system with each channel having its own PMD compensator. In addition, a control method may control any polarization mode dispersion compensator based on feedback from a polarimeter to reduce the PMD of the input signal. Instead of using a polarimeter, a Q detector may be used to monitor the output of the PMD compensator. The Q detector provides a measurement of the edge sharpness and, thereby, a measure of the PMD.