Siemens Communications, Inc.

Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Albrecht Neudecker

Valey F Kamalov

Eric L Nelson

Guy A Cole

Babak B Makooi

A system and method for improving the transmission quality of a WDM optical communications system begins by determining the bit-error rate for an optical channel before forward error correction is performed at a receiver. The pre-corrective bit-error rate is fed back through a feed back circuit that includes a parameter adjustment module which adjusts an optical signal parameter based on the bit-error rate. As examples, the signal parameter may be a channel power, dispersion, signal wavelength, the chirp or eye shape of an optical signal. The feedback circuit may also adjust various parameters within the WDM system, including amplifier gain, attenuation, and power for one or more channels in the system. By adjusting these parameters based on a pre-corrective bit-error rate, transmission quality is improved and costs are lowered through a reduction in hardware.

Method and device for evaluating and improving the quality of transmission of a telecommunications signal through an optical fiber

In a method of analyzing an optical communications signal, a threshold is established under control of a processor, and a decision circuit compares the amplitude of the signal to the threshold. A counter samples the output of the decision circuit and counts, over many periods of the signal, those samples indicating that the amplitude of the signal is above the threshold. The threshold generating, comparing, and counting are repeated for several thresholds within a range corresponding to an expected amplitude range of the signal. The stored counts and thresholds represent an amplitude histogram N(V) for the signal. The derivative dN/dVof the function N(V) represents the probability density function (PDF) for the signal amplitude and can be used to derive performance information such as bit error rate and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR).

Method and apparatus for optical signal and noise analysis using pulse amplitude histogram

A fiber-optic cable guide includes first and second guide walls, one or more base support elements for connecting the guide walls, and a number of securing elements which extend from the guide walls along a top portion thereof. Each securing member preferably has a length which is shorter than the spacing between the guide walls. This difference in length substantially corresponds to the diameter of a fiber-optic cable. A fastener may be included on a bottom surface of one or more of the guide walls for attaching the guide to a mounting surface, which may be a printed circuit board. Furthermore, the guide walls may be conformed to traverse any desired path along the board.

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Albrecht Neudecker