US5745270A
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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: 1996-03-28
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2016-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and associated method for determining if a channel signal carried by a discrete wavelength channel is properly centered for that wavelength channel. A signal generator is provided that superimposes a secondary signal over the original signal in a signal channel. Tone detectors are provided at a point after the superimposition of the secondary signal. The tone detectors detect the superimposed tone signal at wavelengths that are longer and/or shorter than the wavelength assigned to the wavelength channel. By measuring 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Lawson Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:48
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: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 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, 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 2
Independent Claim
110 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, 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 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary signal is intensity modulated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary signal has a single continuous frequency and amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 4, 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 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 4, wherein said means for determining includes optical filters preceding said first and said second detectors, said filters having overlapping response curves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 5, wherein said overlapping response curves overlap at or near said discrete wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 6, wherein said overlapping response curves are monotonically sloping with opposite slopes near the region of overlap.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 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; 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, wherein said at least one signal detector is configured to include a first detector for detecting secondary signals at wavelengths longer than said discrete wavelength for each said channel and a second detector for detecting secondary signals at wavelengths shorter than said discrete wavelength for each said channel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
137 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; 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, wherein said at least one signal detector is configured to include a first detector for detecting secondary signals at wavelengths longer than said discrete wavelength for each said channel and a second detector for detecting secondary signals at wavelengths shorter than said discrete wavelength for each said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein each said secondary signal is intensity modulated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein each said secondary signal has a single continuous frequency and amplitude.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 8 further including correcting means for correcting a channel signal found not to be centered by said at least one detector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein each channel signal is produced by a signal source, and said correcting means includes a controller coupled to said first detector, wherein if said second detector and the signal source for the channel signal found not to be centered, said controller modifies said signal source to correct the channel signal found not to be centered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 8, further including means for determining if the secondary signal at wavelengths detected by said first detector and the secondary signal at wavelengths detected by said second detector are balanced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 13, wherein said means for determining includes optical filters preceding said first and said second detectors, said filters having overlapping response curves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 14, wherein said overlapping response curves overlap at or near said discrete wavelength.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said overlapping response curves are monotonically sloping with opposite slopes near the region of overlap.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
109 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; 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, wherein said multiplexer includes a waveguide grating and waveguide grating router ports, said ports having overlapping optical response curves.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
109 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; 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, wherein said multiplexer includes a waveguide grating and waveguide grating router ports, said ports having overlapping optical response curves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 17, wherein said overlapping response curves overlap at or near said discrete wavelength.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 18, wherein said overlapping response curves are monotonically sloping with opposite slopes near the region of overlap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 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; 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 24
Dependent Claim
90 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; 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 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 20, further including the step of correcting each said channel signal found to be not balanced between said signal wavelengths longer than said discrete wavelength and said signal wavelengths shorter than said discrete wavelength.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 20, wherein each said secondary signal is intensity modulated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 20, wherein each said secondary signal has a tone signal having a single continuous frequency and amplitude.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 20, 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.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 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; detecting whether said secondary signal superimposed over each said channel signal is centered relative to the discrete wavelength for each said channel signal; and eliminating each said channel signal found not to be centered at its discrete wavelength.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 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; detecting whether said secondary signal superimposed over each said channel signal is centered relative to the discrete wavelength for each said channel signal; and eliminating each said channel signal found not to be centered at its discrete wavelength.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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