Redc Optical Networks Inc.

Yoav Sintov

Uri Ghera

Reuven Zaibel

A high efficiency, high performance optical amplifier includes an amplification stage comprised of two Erbium doped fiber (EDF) gain sections separated by a variable optical attenuator (VOA). A single pump serves to pump both EDF sections. A high dynamic gain range is achieved by an interplay between the action of the VOA, and the pump energy absorption mechanisms in each gain section, which are dominated by the saturation characteristics of each of the EDFs. In a preferred embodiment of the method, input signals are coupled with a pump signal into a first EDF gain section in which the energy absorption mechanisms provide first amplified signals that are correlated with a residual pump signal. At the first EDF gain section output, the combined amplified signals and residual pump signal are decoupled, the amplified signals being attenuated in the VOA while the residual pump signal being routed around the VOA. The attenuated signals and the residual pump signal are recoupled and introduced into the second EDF gain section, in which the energy absorption mechanisms provide gain equalized output signals.

Method and apparatus for a highly efficient, high performance optical amplifier

A method and apparatus for optical amplification with a large dynamic gain range in both the non-linear (1530-1540 nm) and linear (1540-1565 nm) regimes of the C-Band. The large dynamic gain range is achieved by the synergistic operation of a dual-stage Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) having a self-saturating Thulium-doped fiber inserted between the two stages. The Thulium-doped fiber saturation is determined by the output power of the first EDFA stage, and the synergistic, combined operation of both EDFA stages and the self-saturating absorber is controlled by appropriate algorithms and software.

Growing community of inventors

Petach Tivka, Israel

Yoav Sintov