Optical: systems and elements – Optical amplifier – Raman or brillouin process
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-15
2004-05-04
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 3663)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical amplifier
Raman or brillouin process
C372S003000, C372S006000, C372S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06731423
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of optical amplifiers and lasers and more particularly to a broad bandwidth optical amplifier and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fiber optics has promised to carry extraordinary amounts of bandwidth. For long haul systems (over 20 miles) the optical signal requires amplification. Until recently this required converting the optical signal to an electrical signal, amplifying the signal and converting it back to an electrical signal. As a result amplification was expensive and limited to the bandwidth of the optical signal. The advent of erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) provided an all optical amplifier. The optical signal is directly amplified without conversion to an electrical signal. Unfortunately, EDFAs tend to only amplify a rather narrow range (narrow bandwidth) of optical wavelengths. As a result, other optical amplifiers have been proposed. One of the most promising solutions to the limited bandwidth (wavelength range) is shown in
FIG. 1. A
pump light, source
20
at a wavelength of 1062 nm is used to pump a P-doped (Phosphorus doped) single mode fiber
22
. A plurality of highly reflective (HR) mirrors pairs
24
,
26
,
28
are strategically spaced about the P-doped single mode fiber
22
. Note that the first mirror pair (Bragg gratings) is highly reflective at 1236 nm. The second mirror pair is highly reflective at 1316 nm and the third mirror pair is highly reflective at 1407 nm. As a result the output light
30
has amplified light around 1236 nm, 1316 nm and 1407 nm. A final mirror
32
is highly reflective, at 1062 nm or the pump wavelength. Generally the mirrors
24
,
26
,
28
,
32
are highly reflective near the specified wavelength and are highly transmissive at other wavelengths.
The output light
30
is coupled into a germanium doped single mode fiber
34
. The output light
30
acts as a pump for the germanium doped fiber
34
. The input communication signal
36
enters the germanium-doped fiber
34
and is amplified. The amplified signal
38
exits through a splitter
40
or other device. While this device is a significant improvement over the EDFAs, amplification of a larger wavelength range is already foreseeable. For instance, the prior art device of
FIG. 1
cannot amplify signals in the 700-1000 nm range, which is an important band of wavelengths since it is a highly transmissive part of optical fibers. In addition the prior art systems cannot amplify signals in the gaps between the Stokes amplified lines.
Thus there exist a need for an optical amplifier that can cover a wide range of optical wavelengths in a continuous fashion.
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Brasseur Jason Kenneth
Neumann David Kurt
Black Thomas G.
Cunningham Stephen
Law of Office of Dale B. Halling LLC
Neumann Information Systems Inc
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