Infinera Corporation

Nortel Networks Corporation

Northern Telecom Limited

Ciena Corporation

Other

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation

Infiriera Corporation

John Duncan McNicol

Kuang-Tsan Wu

Han Henry Sun

Kim Bryon Roberts

Leo L Strawczynski

David F Welch

Maurice M O'Sullivan

Kieran Parsons

Pierre Mertz

Stephen G Grubb

David J Krause

Kuang Tsan Wu

Adrien Comeau

Keith Russell Edwards

Sandy Thomson

Yuejian Wu

Michael Francis Van Leeuwen

Stephen G Harman

David Neal Wessel

Radhakrishnan L Nagarajan

Chandra Sekhar Bontu

Fred A Kish, Jr

Masaki Kato

Ornan A Gerstel

Matthew L Mitchell

Mehrdad Ziari

Vikrant Lal

Mark Edward Rollins

Ahmed Awadalla

Howard James Smith

Hai Xu

Paul A Kennard

Babu O Narayanan

Damien Lambert

Jie Lin

David P Weeks

Richard Driscoll

Iwan D Jemczyk

Edward Anthony Orchard

Joseph L Middleton

Kuang Tsan T Wu

Consistent with the present disclosure a network is provided that includes a primary node and a plurality of secondary nodes. The primary node, as well as each of the secondary nodes, includes a laser that is 'shared' between the transmit and receive sections. That is, light output from the laser is used for transmission as well as for coherent detection. In the coherent receiver, the frequency of the primary node laser is detected and, based on such detected frequency, the frequency of the secondary node laser is adjusted to detect the received information or data. Such frequency detection also serves to adjust the transmitted signal frequency, because the laser is shared between the transmit and receive portions in each secondary receiver. Light output from the primary node laser, which is also shared between transmit and receive portions in the primary node, is thus also set to a frequency that permits detection of each of the incoming optical signals by way of coherent detection. Since, in this example, only one laser is employed in the primary node, the primary node may have a simpler design and may be less expensive to manufacture compared to a primary node having multiple local oscillator lasers, each associated with a corresponding uplink optical signal.

Hub-leaf laser synchronization

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clock synchronizing an optical system and multiple leaf systems. In some implementations, a method includes: first data is received from an optical system. The first data is detected using a local oscillator signal provided by a local oscillator laser. The first data is processed using a first sampling rate. A frequency of a clock signal supplied by a reference clock is adjusted based on the processed first data. Second data is transmitted to the optical system at a rate based on the clock signal.

Synchronization for subcarrier communication

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clock synchronizing an optical system and multiple leaf systems. In some implementations, an apparatus includes a receiver comprising: a local oscillator laser providing a local oscillator signal, a detector circuit operable to receive a first optical signal and detect first data carried by the first optical signal based on the local oscillator signal, a reference clock circuit supplying a clock signal, a digital signal processor (DSP) operable to receive the first data and supply a control signal to the reference clock circuit based on the first data, the reference clock circuit being operable to adjust the clock signal based on the control signal; and a transmitter operable to output a second optical signal carrying second data, the second data having an associated rate that is based on the clock signal.

Methods, systems, transceivers, and apparatus are included for clock synchronizing an optical system and multiple leaf systems. In some implementations, a transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver includes an optical hybrid circuit operable to receive a first modulated optical signal and local oscillator light and to supply optical mixing products based on the first modulated optical signal and the local oscillator light. A photodiode circuit operable to supply an electrical signal based on the optical mixing products. An analog-to-digital conversion circuitry operable to supply digital signals based on the electrical signal. A digital signal processor operable to generate a supply signal based on the digital signals and provide the supply signal to a reference clock circuit for generating a clock signal. The transmitter is operable to output a second modulated optical signal that includes a timing of data based on the clock signal.

Generation of data streams for two dimensions comprises compensation for a nonideal response of a signal path in an optical communications signal. The data streams are converted to analog electrical signals which drive two dimensions of an electrical-to-optical converter. Output of the electrical-to-optical converter is coupled through an optical link to an optical-to-electrical converter.

Compensation of transmitter or receiver defects in an optical communications system

A transmitter is provided that transmits data in either a 'quasi-DP-BPSK' ('QDP') mode or in a DP-QPSK mode. In the QDP mode, data bits are transmitted as changes in phase between first and second phase states along a first axis or as changes in phase between third and fourth phase states along a second axis in the IQ plane. A sequence bit identifies which axis carries the data bit. The sequence bit is one of a series of sequence bits that may be generated by a pseudo-random number generator. The series of sequence bits can be relatively long to permit sufficiently random changes in the axis that carries the data. Thus, unlike conventional BPSK, in which data is transmitted between phase states along a single axis, the present disclosure provides an apparatus and related method for randomly selecting one of two axes, for example, for each transmitted bit.

Optical communication system

A compensation function mitigates a substantial portion of the dispersion imparted to a communications signal by an optical communications system. A digital input signal is digitally processed using the compensation function to generate a predistorted signal. An amplitude and a phase of an optical signal are modulated using a pair of orthogonal signal components to generate a predistorted optical signal for transmission. In one implementation, the pair of orthogonal signal components are components of the predistorted signal. In another implementation, the predistorted signal is processed using a non-linear compensator to generate a further distorted signal and the pair of orthogonal signal components are components of the further distorted signal. In that implementation, the non-linear compensator is configured to substantially compensate for nonlinearities in one or both of an optical modulator of a transmitter of the system and an optical-to-electrical converter of a receiver of the system.

Optical dispersion compensation in the electrical domain in an optical communications system

An optical system includes a transmitter module and/or a receiver module. The transmitter module is configured to receive input data, map the input data to a set of subcarriers associated with an optical communication channel, independently apply spectral shaping to each of the subcarriers, generate input values based on the spectral shaping of each of the subcarriers, generate voltage signals based on the input values, modulate light based on the voltage signals to generate an output optical signal that includes the subcarriers, and output the output optical signal. The receiver module is configured to receive the output optical signal, convert the output optical signal to a set of voltage signals, generate digital samples based on the set of voltage signals, independently process the digital samples for each of the subcarriers, map the processed digital samples to produce output data, and output the output data.

Channel carrying multiple digital subcarriers

Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit node of an optical communication system, and converted to an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to drive a modulator. The modulator, in turn, modulates light at one of a plurality of wavelengths in accordance with the received data forming a plurality of corresponding carriers. The carriers are modulated according to one of a plurality of modulation formats and then optically combined to form a superchannel of a constant maximum capacity, for example. Accordingly, the number of carriers and the bit rate for each carrier remain constant for each modulation format to realize a constant maximum capacity. The superchannel is then transmitted over an optical communication path to a receive node. At the receive node, the superchannel is optically demultiplexed from a plurality of other superchannels. The plurality of carriers of the superchannel are then supplied to a photodetector circuit, which receives additional light at one of the optical signal carrier wavelengths from a local oscillator laser. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided in the receive node to convert the electrical signals output from the photodetector into digital form. The output from the ADC is then filtered in the electrical domain, such that optical demultiplexing of the carriers is unnecessary.

Multiplexer and modulation arrangements for multi-carrier optical modems

Consistent with the present disclosure, data, in digital form, is received by a transmit node of an optical communication system, is processed and then output to drive a modulator. The modulator, in turn, modulates light at one of a plurality of wavelengths in accordance with the received data, forming a plurality of corresponding carriers. The plurality of wavelengths used for the plurality of carriers are spectrally spaced apart by a common, periodic fixed spacing. The plurality of carriers are optically combined with a fixed spacing combiner to form a superchannel. A plurality of superchannels are generated and then multiplexed together onto an optical communication path and transmitted to a receive node. Each superchannel includes a plurality of carriers, each spectrally separated by the same fixed spacing. The plurality of superchannels are spectrally separated by an amount corresponding to the fixed spacing of the plurality of carriers. At the receive node, the superchannels are optically demultiplexed, and the plurality of carriers of a respective superchannel are then supplied to a photodetector circuit, which receives additional light at one of the optical signal carrier wavelengths from a local oscillator laser. The resultant signals are then processed electronically to separate the individual carriers and output data corresponding to the input data.

Periodic superchannel carrier arrangement for optical communication systems

A compensation function mitigates a substantial portion of the chromatic dispersion imparted to a communications signal by an optical communications system. A digital input signal is digitally processed using the compensation function to generate a predistorted signal. An amplitude and a phase of an optical signal are modulated using a pair of orthogonal signal components to generate a predistorted optical signal for transmission. In one implementation, the pair of orthogonal signal components are components of the predistorted signal. In another implementation, the predistorted signal is processed using a non-linear compensator to generate a further distorted signal and the pair of orthogonal signal components are components of the further distorted signal. In that implementation, the non-linear compensator is configured to substantially compensate for nonlinearities in one or both of an optical modulator of a transmitter of the system and an optical-to-electrical converter of a receiver of the system.

Consistent with the present disclosure a transmitter is provided that transmits data in either a 'quasi-DP-BPSK' ('QDP') mode or in a DP-QPSK mode. In the QDP mode, data bits are transmitted as changes in phase between first and second phase states along a first axis or as changes in phase between third and fourth phase states along a second axis in the IQ plane. Although the transmitter outputs an optical signal that changes in phase between each of the four states, a sequence bit identifies which axis carries the data bit. The sequence bit is one of a series of sequence bits that may be generated by a pseudo-random number generator. The series of sequence bits can be relatively long, e.g., 32 bits, to permit sufficiently random changes in the axis that carries the data. Thus, unlike conventional BPSK, in which data is transmitted between phase states along a single axis, the present disclosure provides an apparatus and related method for randomly selecting one of two axes, for example, for each transmitted bit. In the receiver, it has been observed that the MU-CMA algorithm can process data carried by optical signals in the QDP mode with relatively few errors. Thus, the same equalizer (FIR) filter may be used to process BPSK, as well as QPSK data.

Optical dispersion imposed on a communications signal conveyed through an optical communications system is compensated by modulating the communications signal in the electrical domain. A compensation function is determined that substantially mitigates the chromatic dispersion. The communications signal is then modulated in the electrical domain using the compensation function. In preferred embodiments, compensation is implemented in the transmitter, using a look-up-table and digital-to-analog converter to generate an electrical predistorted signal. The electrical predistorted signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical communications system.

An optical system may include optical transmitters to provide respective optical signals. Each of the respective optical signals may provide one or more carriers in an optical channel. The optical channel may include multiple carriers associated with the respective optical signals. First and second carriers, of the multiple carriers, may have a particular carrier space width. The particular carrier space width may include a frequency error associated with one or more optical signals of the respective optical signals. The optical system may include a control system to determine the frequency error and cause one or more of the optical transmitters to adjust the particular carrier space width based on the adjusted frequency error.

Adjusting carrier spacing in a channel

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Ottawa, Canada

John Duncan McNicol