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US5274495A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical amplifier

Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-09-17
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Granted: 1993-12-28
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Expires: 2011-09-17
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Abstract

Abstract An optical amplifier is disclosed which, in an optical amplifier adapted such that signal light and pump light are propagated through an optical waveguide structure (2, 2') therein made of an optically nonlinear material to thereby achieve optical parametric amplification or four-wave mixing optical amplification of the signal light, is provided with means for attenuating idler light to be generated within the optical waveguide structure. The optical amplifier has an advantage that phase matching between the pump light and the signal light is easily achieved and thus an optical amplifier operative over a broad frequency band can be realized.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masataka Shirasaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 02:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/39; G02F1/395

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 91 words
An optical amplifier comprising: an optical waveguide structure through which signal light and pump light are propagated, said optical waveguide structure having a core with a relatively high refractive index and a clad with a relatively low refractive index, at least said core exhibiting a nonlinear response of second order, to thereby achieve optical parametric amplification of said signal light; and idler light attenuation means for attenuating idler light, which is generated in the process of optical parametric amplification, said idler light attenuation means being included in said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 91 words
An optical amplifier comprising: an optical waveguide structure through which signal light and pump light are propagated, said optical waveguide structure having a core with a relatively high refractive index and a clad with a relatively low refractive index, at least said core exhibiting a nonlinear response of second order, to thereby achieve optical parametric amplification of said signal light; and idler light attenuation means for attenuating idler light, which is generated in the process of optical parametric amplification, said idler light attenuation means being included in said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said idler light attenuation means is provided by doping said core with an element absorbing the idler light or a compound of said element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 2, wherein said element is Er (erbium) and the wavelength of said idler light is 1.53 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 3, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical fiber made of quartz glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 3, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical waveguide chip made of LiNbO 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said idler light attenuation means is provided by setting structural parameters of said optical waveguide structure so that the frequency of the idler light becomes lower than the cutoff frequency of said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 6, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical fiber made of quartz glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 6, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical waveguide chip made of LiNbO 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the frequency or phase of said pump light is modulated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 93 words
An optical amplifier comprising: an optical waveguide structure through which signal light and pump light are propagated, said optical waveguide structure having a core with a relatively high refractive index and a clad with a relatively low refractive index, at least said core exhibiting a nonlinear response of third order, to thereby achieve four-wave mixing optical amplification of said signal light; and idler light attenuation means for attenuating idler light, which is generated in the process of four-wave mixing optical amplification, said idler light attenuation means being included in said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 93 words
An optical amplifier comprising: an optical waveguide structure through which signal light and pump light are propagated, said optical waveguide structure having a core with a relatively high refractive index and a clad with a relatively low refractive index, at least said core exhibiting a nonlinear response of third order, to thereby achieve four-wave mixing optical amplification of said signal light; and idler light attenuation means for attenuating idler light, which is generated in the process of four-wave mixing optical amplification, said idler light attenuation means being included in said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 32 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 10, wherein said idler light attenuation means is provided by doping said core with an element absorbing the idler light or a compound of said element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 11, wherein said element is Er (erbium) and the wavelength of said idler light is 1.53 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 12, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical fiber made of quartz glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 12, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical waveguide chip made of LiNbO 3 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 43 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 10, wherein said idler light attenuation means is provided by setting structural parameters of said optical waveguide structure so that the frequency of the idler light becomes lower than the cutoff frequency of said optical waveguide structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 15, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical fiber made of quartz glass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 15, wherein said optical waveguide structure is an optical waveguide chip made of LiNbO 3 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 10, wherein the frequency or phase of said pump light is modulated.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB297076A Cited
US3875422A Cited
JPS62186234A Cited
US4962987A Cited
US4867518A Cited
US5076658A Cited
WO1992005466A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-12-27 1997-06-28 1997-12-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-12-27 2001-06-28 2001-12-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-12-27 2005-06-28 2005-12-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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