Optical output level control device for an optical wavelength multiplexer included in an optical transmission system

Abstract

In an optical transmission system, an optical output control device for an optical wavelength multiplexer includes a wavelength generation circuit for generating wavelength data representative of a wavelength &lgr; or &lgr; and implemented by a decimal number or a binary number. A wavelength administrative byte generation circuit receives the &lgr; or &lgr; wavelength data and transfers it to a wavelength administrative byte insertion circuit and a wavelength administrative byte detection circuit. The wavelength administrative byte insertion circuit inserts the &lgr; or &lgr; wavelength data in the positions of bytes D and D of a high-speed signal, transforms the resulting multiplex signal to a corresponding optical signal, and delivers the optical signal to an optical multiplexing circuit. The multiplexing circuit multiplexes high-speed optical signals respectively having the wavelengths &lgr; and &lgr; and feeds the resulting multiplex high-speed optical signal to an optical amplifier. On the other hand, the wavelength administrative byte detecting circuit detects the data &lgr; and data &lgr; and sends them to a wavelength counting circuit. The wavelength counting circuit counts the different wavelengths and feeds its count to a light source control circuit. The light source control circuit generates a control signal based on the count and feeds it to an exciting light source. The exciting light source applies to the optical amplifier an exciting optical signal whose intensity is determined by the control signal. The amplifier combines the high-speed optical signal and exciting optical signal and then amplifies signal light contained in the combined signal to a preselected level.