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:
May. 29, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2005
Stephen David Fourte, Devon, GB;
Ian Peter Mcclean, Devon, GB;
Gregory Dean May, Devon, GB;
Hazel Ann Mcinnes, Scotland, GB;
Olivier Nicolas Moteau, Cambridge, GB;
Stephen David Fourte, Devon, GB;
Ian Peter McClean, Devon, GB;
Gregory Dean May, Devon, GB;
Hazel Ann McInnes, Scotland, GB;
Olivier Nicolas Moteau, Cambridge, GB;
Bookham Technology plc, Northamptonshire, GB;
Abstract
A multichannel optical amplifier having an adjustable gain set point is controlled to permit substantially constant gain tilt control during a gain set-point change so that the channel powers are maintained during system modification. To this end the amplifier comprises an erbium doped fibre (EDF) loop and associated pump amplifier for amplifying an optical signal comprising channels of different wavelengths, a variable optical attenuator (VOA) for controlling the gain of the amplifier by applying a loss profile that varies with wavelength so that the different channels are amplified in accordance with a required gain tilt, preferably a zero gain tilt, and a PI controller for applying a gain tilt adaptation profile to compensate for an inherent gain tilt to produce the required gain tilt. Furthermore the PI controller is arranged to change the gain tilt adaptation profile in response to a change in the gain set point to allow for the different gain characteristics of the amplifier at different gain set points.