Avago Technologies Fiber IP (singapore) Pte. Ltd

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

David G Cunningham

Frederick W Miller

Mark C Nowell

Janet L Yun

Jing Wang

Jonathan P R Lacey

Steve Methley

A method and an apparatus are provided for launching light into an entrance facet of a multimode optical fiber (MMF) of an optical link in a way that excites one or more higher-order Hermite Gaussian (HMG) mode groups in the MMF. Exciting higher-order HMG mode groups in the MMF increases the bandwidth of the link while also providing reduced modal noise. In addition, selectively exciting one or more higher-order HMG mode groups in the MMF ensures that the launch will provide desirable results even in cases where the connector that connects the end of the MMF to the optical transceiver or transmitter is offset with respect to the receptacle of the optical transceiver or transmitter. This feature allows for greater manufacturing tolerances when manufacturing the connectors and receptacles because precise alignment between them is not critical to achieving a successful launch.

Method and apparatus for providing a linear phase mode-matched launch of light into an end of a multimode optical fiber

The present invention implements open fiber control in an optical transceiver. During normal operation, the transceiver transmits signals through a connection to an optical network. When the connection is intact, the total power transmitted can be greater than the eye-safety limit. When the connection breaks, the transceiver detects the loss of signal and disables transmissions over all channels except for one. The transceiver continues transmission on the single enabled channel at an eye-safe level. When the connection is fixed and a signal reappears, the transceiver detects the signal reappearance and re-enables all channels that had previously been disabled. By allowing the transceiver to transmit with greater optical power when the connection is intact, an increased data rate and longer transmission distances can be achieved. At the same time, safety is preserved, because transmissions drop to acceptable power levels whenever a break is detected.

Open fiber control for optical transceivers

An optical switching node and method for operating same is disclosed. If a signal received over an optical fiber is destined for the switching node at which the signal is received, the signal is processed conventionally. If there is a signal on the fiber that is destined for a different optical switching node, then a node controller will determine whether that signal requires equalization and/or regeneration. A network manager instructs the node controller whether the signal requires wavelength conversion. In accordance with the invention, if the optical signal on the fiber is destined for a different optical switching node and requires none of equalization, regeneration and wavelength conversion, the optical signal remains in the optical domain and is switched directly to an appropriate output fiber. If the node controller and network manager determine that the optical signal that is destined for a different optical switching node requires any combination of equalization, regeneration, and/or wavelength conversion, then the signal is further processed in the optical switching node to provide those functions.

Optical switching node and method for operating same

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

David G Cunningham