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:
Feb. 12, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1999
Sol P. Dijaili, Moraga, CA (US);
Jeffrey D. Walker, El Cerrito, CA (US);
Genoa Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical signal power monitor and regulator comprises: a lasing semiconductor optical amplifier for receiving the optical signal and whose laser output is used to monitor a power level of the optical signal; a monitor circuit which receives the laser output and outputs a monitoring signal; a tunable element for receiving a version of the optical signal and whose level of amplification is adjustable and for outputting an amplified optical signal; and a regulator circuit for receiving the monitoring signal and adjusting the amplification of the tunable optical amplifier depending upon the monitoring signal. The tunable element may comprise a tunable gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier. Such an embodiment is capable of automatically regulating the tunable element such that a power level of the amplified optical signal is kept stable. In addition, the monitor circuit may be used to send status information regarding the optical signal to a network management system, which in turn may send to the regulator circuit a managing signal affecting the level of amplification to be applied to the optical signal.