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:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2000
Steven W. Cornelius, Dunwoody, GA (US);
Robert Corwin, Finksburg, MD (US);
Ciena Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
An optical amplifier is added to the input of a photodetector to perform optical pre-amplification of an input optical signal before it is converted to an electrical signal by the photodetector. A controller utilizes a received power level to control a pump power level of a pump injecting pumping light into the optical amplifier. The pump power level is controlled in order to control the optical gain of the optical amplifier. The received power level may be measured by a receiving device that includes the photodetector and a power measuring device. The pump output power level may also be fed back to the controller to monitor the pump. A dual pass EDFA may be used as the optical amplifier and coupled to a selector to save space and reduce noise.