Corvis Corporation

Thomas D Stephens

Stephen G Grubb

Raymond Zanoni

Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.

Optical signal varying devices

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for operation of optical transmission systems. An optical transmission system of the present invention includes at least one signal varying device positioned to vary an optical signal passing to an optical processing node to achieve one or more desired signal characteristic in the optical signal as it approaches or reach the optical processing node. A controller is provided and configured to control the at least one signal varying device in response to at least one detected characteristic of said optical signal as it passes to the optical processing nodes. The signal varying devices are controlled collectively, in groups, or individually to achieve the desired characteristics in the optical signal when the optical signal arrives at the optical processing nodes. The processing nodes include optical transmitter in optical communication with optical receivers via signal varying devices, which include amplifiers, attenuators, filters, and other signal varying devices. The signal varying devices are controlled to produce at desired signal characteristic, such as minimized gain flatness variations, or uniform signal to noise ratio versus wavelength profiles at the receiver or an intermediate processing node, such as an add/drop port, control point, or a switch.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Thomas D Stephens