Alphion Corporation

Julio Martinez

Bharat P Dave

Boris Stefanov

Tan Buu Thai

Kwang S Kim

Ronald Simprini

Doruk Engin

Olga Nedzhvetskaya

Jithamithra Sarathy

Mohammad Laham

Jiten Sarathy

David Lidsky

Roman Antosik

Michael Evans

Chinnabbu Ekambaram

Gaurav Naik

Roanld Simprini

A method and apparatus for a tunable optical spectrum analyzer that can measure the optical spectrum of a demultiplexed DWDM signal are presented. The signal level and Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR) of an individual channel of the DWDM signal can be obtained from the measured optical spectrum. The device employs a rapid tuning and detection technique to obtain the optical spectrum of the incoming signal. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is fabricated on a single chip resulting in a compact measurement device. Using the device of the preferred embodiment, single channel OSNR can be determined in as small a time interval as approximately 225 microseconds. Using an array of these devices an entire DWDM mixed signal can be monitored as to OP and OSNR in the same time interval.

Method and apparatus for bit-rate and format insensitive performance monitoring of lightwave signals

A method and circuit are presented for an all-optical format independent preprocessor that processes an arbitrary optical input signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. The method involves subtracting a delayed copy of the signal from the original, thereby effectively doubling its frequency, and inserting a pulse at each transition of the original signal, whether rising or falling. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The asymmetry consists of a delay element in one arm. In a preferred embodiment the entire device is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, allowing for compactness as well as minimization of interconnectivity losses and overall power consumption. The output of the preprocessor, having a significant frequency component at its original clock rate, can then be fed to a clock recovery stage for all-optical clock recovery.

Format insensitive and bit rate independent optical preprocessor

A method and circuit are presented for the all optical recovery of the clock signal from an arbitrary optical data signal. The method involves two stages. A first stage preprocesses the optical signal by converting a NRZ signal to a PRZ signal, or if the input optical signal is RZ, by merely amplifying it. In a preferred embodiment this stage is implemented via an integrated SOA in each arm of an asymmetric interferometric device. The output of the preprocessing stage is fed to a clock recovery stage, which consists of a symmetric interferometer that locks on to the inherent clock signal by using the second stage input signal to trigger two optical sources to self oscillate at the clock rate. In a preferred embodiment the second stage is implemented via SOAs integrated in the arms of an interferometer, with two DFB lasers as terminuses. The output of the interferometer is an optical clock signal at the clock rate of the original input.

Bit-rate and format insensitive all-option clock extraction circuit

Bit-rate and format insensitive all-optical clock extraction circuit

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Oakhurst, NJ, United States of America

Julio Martinez