The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 22, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 13, 1998
Alan E. Wilner, Los Angeles, CA (US);
David A. Smith, Shaker Heights, OH (US);
Jin-Xin Cai, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Kai-Ming Feng, Alhambra, CA (US);
Xingyu Zou, San Jose, CA (US);
Shouhua Huang, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A dynamic power equalization module ( ) for an optical network is provided. It includes a module input ( ) for receiving an optical transmission ( ) containing a combination of different channels (C -C ). Each channel (C -C ) has a different characteristic wavelength (&lgr; -&lgr; ) and different varying power. A power equalization device that is polarization insensitive is connected between the module input ( ) and a module output ( ). The power equalization device is driven by RF acoustic signals ( ). A feedback loop ( ) receives at least a portion of output from the module output ( ) and generates, based upon a comparison of relative powers of the different channels (C -C ), the RF acoustic signals ( ) which drive the power equalization device. The power equalization device is driven such that it dynamically controls transmission of the different channels (C -C ) to substantially equalize power differentials therebetween. The power equalization device includes a parallel array of acousto-optic modulators (AO -AO ).