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:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1999
Jonathan P King, Epping, GB;
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
An apparatus for reshaping optical pulses divides an incoming optical signal ( ) into a first ( ) and a second ( ) path. The signal in the second path ( ) is converted into an electrical signal which provides information concerning the pulse power of individual pulses. An optical modulator ( ) is provided in the first, purely optical path ( ) for modifying the optical signal so as to attenuate the pulses by an amount which depends on the power of the pulses, higher power pulses being attenuated more than lower power pulses. This helps maintain a constant signal to noise ratio within the system and can extend the number of optical spans of an optical signal before it requires full electrical regeneration.