US5689594A
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US
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Multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-18
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Granted: 1997-11-18
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Expires: 2016-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for optimizing the performance, in a multichannel optical transmission system, of an optical signal regenerator, by compensating for input signal power fluctuation and for output signal gain change, and by mildly filtering individual wavelengths between gain block stages. A system and method to provide amplification and refinement of a bidirectional optical signal in a single amplification and refinement stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Xiaoping Charles Mao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/29; H04B10/291; H04B10/297; H04B10/2971; H04B10/07; H04B10/075; H04B10/077; H04B10/079; H04B10/0795; H04B10/07955; H04B10/25; H04B10/2589; H04B10/2912; H04J; H04J14/00; H04J14/02; H04J14/0221; H04J14/02216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a signal conditioner coupled to said first optical amplifier; a power equalizer coupled to said signal conditioner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a signal conditioner coupled to said first optical amplifier; a power equalizer coupled to said signal conditioner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said first and second optical fibers each carries a first and second set of optical wavelengths, the first set of optical wavelengths traveling towards said first and second wavelength division multiplexers and the second set of optical wavelengths traveling away from said first and second wavelength division multiplexers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said first and second power management units comprise an acoustic optical tunable filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said first and second power management units comprise a variable attenuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said first and second optical amplifiers comprise an erbium doped fiber amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said signal conditioner comprises a dispersion compensator and a wavelength add/drop element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth wavelength division multiplexers comprise a diffraction grating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a power equalizer coupled to said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a power equalizer coupled to said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 8, wherein said power equalizer comprises an acoustic optical tunable filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 8, wherein said power equalizer comprises a variable attenuator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 8, wherein said first and second wavelength division multiplexer comprise a diffraction grating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a first and second power management units coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a first and second power management units coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 12, wherein said power equalizer comprises an acoustic optical tunable filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 12, wherein said power equalizer comprises a variable attenuator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 12, wherein said first and second optical fibers each carries a first and second set of optical wavelengths, the first set of optical wavelengths traveling towards said first and second wavelength division multiplexers and the second set of optical wavelengths traveling away from said first and second wavelength division multiplexers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier; and a third and fourth power management unit coupled to said wavelength splitter and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a power equalizer coupled to said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; and a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
105 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a power equalizer coupled to said first optical amplifier; a second optical amplifier coupled to said power equalizer; and a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; and a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
A multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier, comprising: a first wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a first optical fiber; a second wavelength division multiplexer coupled to a second optical fiber; a first and second power management units coupled to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively; a wavelength combiner coupled to said first and second power management units; a first optical amplifier coupled to said wavelength combiner; a second optical amplifier coupled to said first optical amplifier; and a wavelength splitter coupled to said second optical amplifier and to said first and second wavelength division multiplexers, respectively.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 18, wherein said first and second optical amplifiers comprise an erbium doped fiber amplifier.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multiple wavelength bidirectional lightwave amplifier of claim 18, wherein said first and second power management units comprise an acoustic optical tunable filter.
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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) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |