US5400165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical communication using dispersion-induced FM to AM conversion with nonlinearity-induced stabilization
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1993-09-10
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Granted: 1995-03-21
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Expires: 2013-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical communication system and method are provided which utilize dispersion-induced FM to AM conversion with nonlinearity-induced AM stabilization. The system and method utilize a frequency modulated optical signal transmitter, a fiber span, an optical receiver which receives the transmitted optical signal and detects an AM signal resulting from dispersion-induced energy overlaps and voids in the optical signal, and one or more in-line amplifiers spaced within the optical fiber span. By adjusting the number, position and/or output power levels of the in-line amplifiers, stabilization of the energy voids and overlaps and resulting AM signal can be achieved, yielding a substantial increase in achievable transmission distance at a given bit rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan H. Gnauck
- 👤 Christian Kurtzke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2507; H04B10/2513; H04B10/25137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of transmitting optical signals through an optical fiber span, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; providing an optical signal receiver at an opposite end of said optical fiber span for receiving said frequency modulated optical signal from said optical fiber span; providing at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver; demodulating said frequency modulated optical signal entering said receiver by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and selecting a position of said in-line amplifier to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of transmitting optical signals through an optical fiber span, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; providing an optical signal receiver at an opposite end of said optical fiber span for receiving said frequency modulated optical signal from said optical fiber span; providing at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver; demodulating said frequency modulated optical signal entering said receiver by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and selecting a position of said in-line amplifier to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of selecting an output power of at least one of said in-line amplifiers to further stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby further improve detection of said amplitude modulation
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing at least one in-line amplifier and said step of selecting a position of said in-line amplifier includes providing four in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said four in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced within said span about 60 km apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing at least one in-line amplifier and said step of selecting a position of said in-line amplifier includes providing three in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said three in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced within said span about 75 km apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing at least one in-line amplifier and said step of selecting a position of said in-line amplifier includes providing two in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said two in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced within said span about 100 km apart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of adding a length of optical fiber between said receiver and an output of said in-line amplifier closest to said receiver, to provide an increase in a total length of optical fiber in said optical fiber span.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of selecting said output power of at least one of said in-line amplifiers includes selecting an output power of said in-line amplifier in the range between about 10 and 20 milliwatts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical communication system comprising: an optical fiber span; an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, at a position selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical communication system comprising: an optical fiber span; an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, at a position selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication system of claim 11 wherein said in-line amplifier has an output power of about 10 to 20 milliwatts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system of claim 11 including four in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The communication system of claim 13 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said four in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced about 60 km apart within said span.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system of claim 11 including three in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The communication system of claim 15 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said three in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced about 75 km apart within said span.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system of claim 11 including two in-line amplifiers substantially evenly spaced within said optical fiber span.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The communication system of claim 17 wherein said optical fiber span has a length of about 300 km and said two in-line amplifiers are substantially evenly spaced about 100 km apart within said span.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The communication system of claim 11 further including an additional length of optical fiber between said receiver and an output of said in-line amplifier closest to said receiver, such that a total length of optical fiber in said optical fiber span is increased.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said optical fiber span includes fiber having a dispersion of about 15 to 20 ps/km-nm.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of transmitting optical signals through an optical fiber span, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; providing an optical signal receiver at an opposite end of said optical fiber span for receiving said frequency modulated optical signal from said optical fiber span; providing at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver; demodulating said frequency modulated optical signal entering said receiver by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and selecting an output power of said in-line amplifier to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of transmitting optical signals through an optical fiber span, said method comprising the steps of: providing an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; providing an optical signal receiver at an opposite end of said optical fiber span for receiving said frequency modulated optical signal from said optical fiber span; providing at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver; demodulating said frequency modulated optical signal entering said receiver by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and selecting an output power of said in-line amplifier to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of selecting a position of said in-line amplifier to further stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby further improve detection of said amplitude modulation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the step of selecting a position of said in-line amplifier further includes selecting said position such that said in-line amplifier is substantially evenly spaced within said fiber span.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said step of selecting said output power of said in-line amplifier includes selecting an output power in the range between about 10 and 20 milliwatts.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
131 words
An optical communication system comprising: an optical fiber span; an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, said in-line amplifier having an output power level selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
131 words
An optical communication system comprising: an optical fiber span; an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span; an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal; and at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, said in-line amplifier having an output power level selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication system of claim 25 wherein a position of said in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span is selected to further stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system of claim 25 wherein said in-line amplifier is substantially evenly spaced within said fiber span.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication system of claim 25 further including a plurality of said in-line amplifiers in positions selected to further stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication system of claim 25 wherein said in-line amplifier is selected to have an output power in the range between about 10 and 20 milliwatts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-20 | 1998-09-19 | 1999-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-20 | 2002-09-19 | 2003-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-20 | 2006-09-19 | 2007-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |