Patent US5367587A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5367587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical amplifier
Assignee: KDDI Corp
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Filing: 1994-02-09
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2014-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An optical-fiber light amplifier using rare-earth-doped optical fibers. The light amplifier combines first and second excitation light from first and second sources to form combined excitation light and divides the combined excitation light for inverted distribution to both two optical fibers. The light entered one optical fiber and that entered the other optical fiber are polarized so as to be perpendicular to each other so that fluctuation of output level is prevented without mutual interference. Alternatively the first excitation light and the second excitation light may have different wavelengths; also in this case, fluctuation of level is prevented without any interference.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Mizuochi
- 👤 Tadayoshi Kitayama
- 👤 Katsuhiro Shimizu
- 👤 Kiwami Matsushita
- 👤 Nobuyuki Takemura
- 👤 Eiichi Nakagawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/60; H04B10/66; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/10; H01S3/13; H01S3/1301; H01S3/13013; H04B10/29; H04B10/291; H04B10/293; H04B10/2933; H04B10/2935; H04B10/50; H04B10/501; H04B10/503; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06754; H01S3/094011; H01S3/09408; H01S3/094096; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; H04B2210/00; H04B2210/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) first and second sources for emitting first pumping light and second pumping light, respectively; (b) means for polarizing said first pumping light and said second pumping light in such a state that they are perpendicular to each other; (c) combining means for combining said first pumping light and second pumping light, which are emitted from said polarizing means, to form combined light; (d) distributing means, having first and second output terminals, for distributing said combined light from said combining means to said first and second output terminals; and (e) first and second amplifying media connected to said first and second output terminals, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) first and second sources for emitting first pumping light and second pumping light, respectively; (b) means for polarizing said first pumping light and said second pumping light in such a state that they are perpendicular to each other; (c) combining means for combining said first pumping light and second pumping light, which are emitted from said polarizing means, to form combined light; (d) distributing means, having first and second output terminals, for distributing said combined light from said combining means to said first and second output terminals; and (e) first and second amplifying media connected to said first and second output terminals, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said first and second amplifying media are rare-earth-doped optical fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is an optical coupler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein said combining means and said distributing means are a light polarization beam splitter and an optical coupler, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 1; wherein said polarizing means is capable of polarizing a polarization surface of said first pumping light by +45 degrees to a predetermined axis, and said polarizing means is capable of polarizing a polarization surface of said second pumping light by -45 degrees to said predetermined axis; and wherein said combining means and said distributing means are capable of combining part of said first pumping light and part of said second pumping light, which are emitted from said polarizing means, to form combined light, and distributing such combined light to both said first and second output terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) a first source for emitting first pumping light; (b) a second source for emitting second pumping light having a wavelength different from those of said first pumping light; (c) means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; (d) means for distributing said combined light to both first and second output terminals; and (e) first and second amplifying media connected to said first and second output terminals, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) a first source for emitting first pumping light; (b) a second source for emitting second pumping light having a wavelength different from those of said first pumping light; (c) means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; (d) means for distributing said combined light to both first and second output terminals; and (e) first and second amplifying media connected to said first and second output terminals, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 6, wherein said first and second amplifying media are rare-earth-doped optical fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 6, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is a multiwavelength optical coupler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) first and second sources for emitting first pumping light and second pumping light, respectively; (b) means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; (c) distributing means, having first and second output terminals, for distributing said combined light to both first and second output terminals; and (d) an amplifying medium coupled to both said first and second output terminals for receiving said combined light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) first and second sources for emitting first pumping light and second pumping light, respectively; (b) means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; (c) distributing means, having first and second output terminals, for distributing said combined light to both first and second output terminals; and (d) an amplifying medium coupled to both said first and second output terminals for receiving said combined light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 9, wherein said amplifying medium is an rare-earth-doped optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 9, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is a multiwavelength optical coupler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) light-amplifying means for amplifying a light signal; and (b) polarization-limiting means, connected in series with said light-amplifying means, for reducing spontaneous emission light from said light-amplifying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical amplifier comprising: (a) light-amplifying means for amplifying a light signal; and (b) polarization-limiting means, connected in series with said light-amplifying means, for reducing spontaneous emission light from said light-amplifying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 12, wherein said light-amplifying means includes an rare-earth-doped optical fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 12, wherein said polarization-limiting means is a polarizer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical amplifier according to claim 12, further comprising: means for dividing part of the output light from said polarization-limiting means; light-detecting means connected to one output terminal of said dividing means; and means for controlling said polarization-limiting means based on the output of said light-detecting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light; first polarizing means for polarizing said first pumping light to form first polarized pumping light; second polarizing means for polarizing said second pumping light in a direction perpendicular to said first polarized pumping light to form second polarized pumping light; combining means for combining said first polarized pumping light and second polarized pumping light to form combined light; a first rare-earth-doped optical fiber; a second rare-earth-doped optical fiber; and distributing means for distributing said combined light to said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light; first polarizing means for polarizing said first pumping light to form first polarized pumping light; second polarizing means for polarizing said second pumping light in a direction perpendicular to said first polarized pumping light to form second polarized pumping light; combining means for combining said first polarized pumping light and second polarized pumping light to form combined light; a first rare-earth-doped optical fiber; a second rare-earth-doped optical fiber; and distributing means for distributing said combined light to said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 16, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is an optical coupler.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 16, wherein said combining means is an optical coupler, and said distributing means is a light polarization beam splitter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
110 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 16: wherein said first polarizing means includes means for rotating a polarization surface of said first pumping light by +45 degrees with respect to a predetermined axis, and said second polarizing means includes means for rotating a polarization surface of said second pumping light by -45 degrees with respect to said predetermined axis; and wherein said combining means includes means for combining part of said first polarized pumping light and part of said second polarized pumping light to form combined light; and wherein said distributing means includes means for distributing said combined light to said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light having a wavelength different from those of said first pumping light; combining means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; a first rare-earth-doped optical fiber; a second rare-earth-doped optical fiber; and distributing means for distributing said combined light to said first optical fiber and to said second optical fiber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light having a wavelength different from those of said first pumping light; combining means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; a first rare-earth-doped optical fiber; a second rare-earth-doped optical fiber; and distributing means for distributing said combined light to said first optical fiber and to said second optical fiber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 20, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is a multiwavelength optical coupler.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light; combining means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; distributing means, having first output terminal and a second output terminal, for distributing said combined light to said first output terminal and said second output terminal; and a rare-earth-doped optical fiber coupled to both said first output terminal and said second output terminal for receiving said combined light, said optical fiber having amplifying properties with a saturation characteristic; wherein either one of said first pumping light and said second pumping light has sufficient power to drive said optical fiber into saturation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: a first source for emitting first pumping light; a second source for emitting second pumping light; combining means for combining said first pumping light and said second pumping light to form combined light; distributing means, having first output terminal and a second output terminal, for distributing said combined light to said first output terminal and said second output terminal; and a rare-earth-doped optical fiber coupled to both said first output terminal and said second output terminal for receiving said combined light, said optical fiber having amplifying properties with a saturation characteristic; wherein either one of said first pumping light and said second pumping light has sufficient power to drive said optical fiber into saturation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 22, wherein each of said combining means and said distributing means is a multiwavelength optical coupler.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: light-amplifying rare-earth-doped optical fiber means for amplifying a light signal; and polarization-limiting means, connected in series with said light-amplifying means, for reducing spontaneous emission light from said light-amplifying means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical fiber amplifier comprising: light-amplifying rare-earth-doped optical fiber means for amplifying a light signal; and polarization-limiting means, connected in series with said light-amplifying means, for reducing spontaneous emission light from said light-amplifying means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 24, wherein said polarization-limiting means is a polarizer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
An optical fiber amplifier according to claim 24, further comprising: means for dividing part of the output light from said polarization-limiting means; light-detecting means connected to one output terminal of said dividing means; and means for controlling said polarization-limiting means based on an output of said light-detecting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |