EP0798882A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for monitoring and correcting individual wavelength channel parameters in a multi-channel wavelength division multiplexer system
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-18
Abstract
Abstract In a system and associated method for determining if a channel signal carried by a discrete wavelength channel (34, 36) is properly centered for that wavelength channel a signal generator (42) is provided that superimposes a secondary signal over the original signal in a signal channel. Tone detectors (52, 54) are provided at a point after the superimposition of the secondary signal. The tone detectors (52, 54) detect the superimposed tone signal at wavelengths that are longer and/or shorter than the wavelength assigned to the wavelength channel. By measuring (in 60) the degree of balance between wavelengths longer than the wavelength assigned to the wavelength channel and the wavelengths shorter than the wavelength assigned to the wavelength channel, it can be determined if the original signal is centered for that wavelength channel. If a predetermined degree of balance is not obtained, the original signal for the wavelength channel can be corrected or can be recognized as being non-compliant. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Lawson Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0298; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/50; H04B10/501; H04B10/506; H04B10/572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A system for determining if a channel signal assigned to a channel of a discrete wavelength is centered at said discrete wavelength, comprising: a signal generator source, coupled to said channel, for superimposing a secondary signal over said channel signal; and at least one signal detector for detecting whether said secondary signal superimposed over said channel signal is maintained at a wavelength center relative to said discrete wavelength.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for combining a plurality of channel signals into a single output, wherein each channel signal originates from a channel assigned to a discrete wavelength, said system comprising: signal generator source, coupled to each said channel, for superimposing a distinct secondary signal over each said channel signal; a multiplexer for combining each said channel signal at a single output; and at least one signal detector for detecting whether each said distinct secondary signal superimposed over each said channel signal is centered relative to said discrete wavelength for that channel signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
26 words
The system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said secondary signal is intensity modulated and said secondary signal has a single continuous frequency and amplitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 2 further including correcting means for correcting a channel signal found not to be centered by said at least one detector.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
50 words
The system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said at least one signal detector is configured to include a first detector for detecting said secondary signal at wavelengths longer than said discrete wavelength and a second detector for detecting said secondary signal at wavelengths shorter than said discrete wavelength.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system according to claim 4, wherein each channel signal is produced by a signal source, and said correcting means includes a controller coupled to said first detector and said second detector, wherein if the channel signal found not to be centered by said first detector and said second detector, said controller modifies said signal source to correct the channel signal found not to be centered.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 5, further including means for determining if said secondary signal detected by said first detector and said secondary signal detected by said second detector are balanced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein said means for determining includes optical filters preceding said first and said second detectors, said filters having overlapping response curves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said multiplexer comprises a wave guide grating router, said router including waveguide grating router ports, said ports having overlapping optical filter response curves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein said overlapping response curves overlap at or near said discrete wavelength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 9, wherein said overlapping response curves overlap at or near said discrete wavelength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein said overlapping response curves are monotonically sloping with opposite slopes near the region of overlap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 11, wherein said overlapping response curves are monotonically sloping with opposite slopes near the region of overlap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a system for combining a plurality of channel signals into a single output, wherein each channel signal originates from a channel assigned to a discrete wavelength, a method of controlling said system comprising the steps of: superimposing a secondary signal over each said channel signal; and detecting whether said secondary signal superimposed over each said channel signal is centered relative to the discrete wavelength for each said channel signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 14, further including the step of correcting each said channel signal found not to be centered at its discrete wavelength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of detecting includes the substeps of: detecting signal wavelengths having a wavelength longer than said discrete wavelength; detecting signal wavelengths having a wavelength shorter than said discrete wavelength; and determining if the signal wavelengths longer than said discrete wavelength and the signal wavelengths shorter than said discrete wavelength are balanced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein each said secondary signal is intensity modulated, and each said secondary signal has a tone signal having a single continuous frequency and amplitude.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 14, further including the step of eliminating each said channel signal found not to be centered at its discrete wavelength.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein each said channel signal is produced by a signal source, and said step of correcting includes altering said channel signal at said signal source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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