US20020005981A1 - Balanced gain flattening filters - Google Patents
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- US20020005981A1 US20020005981A1 US09/426,051 US42605199A US2002005981A1 US 20020005981 A1 US20020005981 A1 US 20020005981A1 US 42605199 A US42605199 A US 42605199A US 2002005981 A1 US2002005981 A1 US 2002005981A1
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- 229910052691 Erbium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29379—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device
- G02B6/29391—Power equalisation of different channels, e.g. power flattening
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29331—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means operating by evanescent wave coupling
- G02B6/29335—Evanescent coupling to a resonator cavity, i.e. between a waveguide mode and a resonant mode of the cavity
- G02B6/29338—Loop resonators
- G02B6/29343—Cascade of loop resonators
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/293—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means
- G02B6/29379—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device
- G02B6/29395—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals with wavelength selective means characterised by the function or use of the complete device configurable, e.g. tunable or reconfigurable
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/10—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating
- H01S3/10007—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating in optical amplifiers
- H01S3/10023—Controlling the intensity, frequency, phase, polarisation or direction of the emitted radiation, e.g. switching, gating, modulating or demodulating in optical amplifiers by functional association of additional optical elements, e.g. filters, gratings, reflectors
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
- H04B10/29—Repeaters
- H04B10/291—Repeaters in which processing or amplification is carried out without conversion of the main signal from optical form
- H04B10/293—Signal power control
- H04B10/294—Signal power control in a multiwavelength system, e.g. gain equalisation
- H04B10/2941—Signal power control in a multiwavelength system, e.g. gain equalisation using an equalising unit, e.g. a filter
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S2301/00—Functional characteristics
- H01S2301/04—Gain spectral shaping, flattening
Definitions
- Optical amplifiers produce spectrally related variations in gain that can be reduced by gain flattening filters having compensating spectral responses.
- the gain flattening filters which are sometimes required to exhibit complex response profiles, can be assembled from filter components that exhibit simpler response profiles.
- gain flattening filters can be approximated by concatenating filter components with simpler filter responses.
- Such compound gain flattening filters can be formed by concatenating conventional filters with spectral response profiles distinguished by their peak losses and their central wavelengths.
- Our new compound gain flattening filters can be manufactured using certain conventional steps including determining a filter desired loss spectrum and using a conventional algorithm to fit the desired loss spectrum with a series of filter components having individual spectral responses with peak losses specified at different wavelengths.
- at least a first of the filter components is fashioned from a pair of filter sub-components with similar spectral responses.
- the peak losses of the filter sub-components sum to the intended peak loss of the first filter component, and the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components also average to the specified central wavelength of the first filter component.
- the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components are offset in opposite directions with respect to the specified central wavelength of the first filter component for utilizing filter sub-components with wider range tolerances.
- the resulting response of the compound gain flattening filter is closer to the desired loss spectrum than if the central wavelength of the first filter were similarly offset in either direction.
- Compound gain flattening filters can be made in accordance with our invention by dividing an entire series of filter components into two sets of filter sub-components.
- the central wavelengths of all of the filter sub-components of the first set are shifted in a positive direction and the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components of the second set are shifted in a negative direction, both with respect to the prescribed central wavelengths of the filter component series.
- the two sets of filter sub-components produce an actual spectral filter response that is closer to the desired loss spectrum than if the central wavelengths of the series of filter components were similarly shifted in either direction.
- the two sets of filter sub-components are particularly useful for reducing gain ripple of paired amplifiers having similar gain outputs, especially amplifiers separated by a fiber span.
- One set is positioned within one of the amplifiers, and the other set is positioned within the other amplifier.
- the gain ripples of the two amplifiers are separately reduced, avoiding amplifier-to-amplifier transmissions that are not appropriately corrected.
- the filter sub-components of our invention are preferably made according to usual manufacturing practices, but are sorted following manufacture according to their shift from prescribed central wavelengths. For example, those shifted in a positive direction can be paired with those shifted by a similar amount in a negative direction so that the average central wavelength of the pair approaches the prescribed central wavelength. A similar balance can be achieved by larger combinations of sub-components having central wavelengths distributed about a prescribed mean.
- tuning can be used to intentionally offset the central wavelength of one member of a combination to balance an opposite direction of offset exhibited by one or more other members of the combination. Tuning can also be practiced upon the one member to balance the filter central wavelengths in a static or dynamic fashion to accommodate changing conditions of use.
- the desired loss spectrum for the compound gain flattening filters represents the best fit of a combination of theoretical filter components varying in peak loss and central wavelength. However, the best fit of the series of filter components is still an approximation of a target loss spectrum required to entirely eliminate gain ripple.
- FIG. 1 is a graph of individual spectral responses of individual filter components intended to provide an approximate fit to a target loss spectrum.
- FIG. 2 is a graph of an insertion loss error function representing a difference between the target loss spectrum and the sum of individual spectral responses of the filter components.
- FIG. 3 is a graph of two different insertion loss error functions contrasting the effects of shifting central wavelengths of the component responses in opposite directions by approximately one Angstrom.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram comparing a conventional compound gain flattening filter to a new compound gain flattening filter with components subdivided into pairs.
- FIG. 5 is a graph that compares the insertion loss error functions resulting from various central wavelength shifts of pairs of filter sub-components replacing the filter components.
- FIG. 6 is a diagram of an optical amplification system showing two sets of filter sub-components located between amplifier coils.
- FIG. 7 is a diagram of an optical amplification system showing sets of filter components located within amplifier stages separated by a fiber span.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6 in which one of the filter sets is tunable.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram of an optical amplification system in which one of several filter components is divided into a pair of sub-components between amplifier coils.
- a typical compound gain flattening filter includes a series of filter components that exhibit individual spectral responses such as the spectral responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 depicted in FIG. 1.
- the depicted responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 which are measured here in terms of decibel loss over a domain of wavelengths, all have Gaussian profiles but are distinguished by different peak losses and different central wavelengths at which the peak losses occur.
- the spectral response 10 has a peak loss of 8 . 0 decibels at a central wavelength of approximately 1533 nanometers
- the spectral response 12 has a peak loss of 2 decibels at a central wavelength of approximately 1543 nanometers.
- FIG. 1 Also shown in the graph of FIG. 1 is a target loss spectrum 18 , which is chosen to reduce or eliminate gain ripple of a particular amplifier.
- a best fit algorithm is used to determine the peak losses and the central wavelengths of the component responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 to approximate the target loss spectrum 18 .
- the fit is generally not perfect and some error results.
- FIG. 2 depicts an insertion loss error function 20 representing this error calculated as a difference between the target loss spectrum 18 and the combined responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 of the filter components.
- the insertion loss error function 20 can easily be worsened by small errors in the component responses, particularly errors in the central wavelengths of the responses.
- FIG. 3 depicts the effects of 0.1 nanometer (one Angstrom) changes in the central wavelengths of the spectral responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 .
- An insertion loss error function 22 results from a positive shift of the central wavelengths of the four spectral responses 10 , 12 , 14 , and 16 through just one Angstrom
- an insertion loss error function 24 results from a negative shift of the central wavelengths of the same spectral responses by a similar amount.
- the insertion loss error functions 22 and 24 are significantly worse, particularly within the range between 1530 and 1540 nanometers of wavelength. This range of wavelengths, which is referred to as the “blue band”, corresponds to wavelengths amplified by conventional erbium-doped amplifiers.
- FIG. 4 depicts an example of a conventional gain flattening filter 26 and its relationship to a gain flattening filter 28 in accordance with our invention.
- the conventional gain flattening filter 26 is formed along a fiber 30 by a series of filter components 32 , 34 , 36 , and 38 that produce a combined spectral response approximating a desired loss spectrum.
- our invention proposes the new gain flattening filter 28 , which is formed along a similar fiber 40 .
- the new gain flatting filter 28 replaces the components 32 , 34 , 36 , and 38 with pairs of sub-components 42 a and 42 b , 44 a and 44 b , 46 a and 46 b , and 48 a and 48 b having similar response profiles.
- Each of the pairs of sub-components (e.g., 42 a and 42 b ) produce spectral responses that sum to the intended peak loss of the component (e.g., 32 ) they are replacing and have central wavelengths that average to the central wavelength of their replaced component (e.g., 32 ).
- one sub-component (e.g., 42 a ) of the pairs has a central wavelength shifted in a positive direction with respect to the prescribed central wavelength of the replaced component (e.g., 32 ), and the other sub-component (e.g., 42 b ) of the pairs has a central wavelength shifted in an opposite direction with respect to the same prescribed central wavelength.
- FIG. 5 compares an insertion loss error function 50 produced by the new gain flattening filter 28 in which the paired sub-components are shifted in opposite directions by one Angstrom to the insertion loss error functions 52 and 54 produced by shifting both sub-components of each pair in the same positive or negative directions.
- the latter error functions 52 and 54 equate to the errors expected from shifting the central wavelengths of the filter components 32 , 34 , 36 , and 38 in one direction or the other through the same amount.
- the balancing of the central wavelengths of the paired sub-components significantly reduces the attendant insertion loss error function 50 with respect to the error functions 52 and 54 associated with similar magnitudes of central wavelength shifts that are not balanced.
- pairing sub-components e.g., 42 a and 42 b
- balanced central wavelengths allows for the use of sub-components having a wider range of central wavelengths in compound gain flattening filters.
- filter sub-components with wavelength deviations in one direction can be paired together with other filter components with similar wavelength deviations in an opposite direction.
- the pairing can include sorting the sub-components by central wavelength and assembling the pairs from among the sorted sub-components or tuning the central wavelength of one member of a pair to balance a central wavelength deviation of the other member of the pair.
- an amplification system 56 depicted in FIG. 6 includes an amplifier 58 formed by two erbium doped coils 62 and 64 and a compound gain flattening filter 66 formed by two sets of filter sub-components 68 and 70 , each set contributing approximately one-half of the intended peak loss of the filter 66 .
- the sub-components of the set 68 have central wavelengths that are shifted in a positive direction
- the sub-components of the set 70 have central wavelengths that are similarly shifted in a negative direction. All of the sub-components are preferably formed by long period gratings having Gaussian response profiles.
- FIG. 7 depicts an optical amplifying system 76 with concatenated optical amplifiers 78 and 80 separated by a fiber span 82 .
- Each of the amplifiers 78 and 80 is formed by a pair of erbium doped fiber coils 84 and 86 or 88 and 90 .
- a gain flattening filter 92 is positioned between the coils 84 and 86 of the amplifier 78 and has one or more fiber components with central wavelengths shifted in a positive direction.
- a gain flattening filter 94 is positioned between the coils 88 and 90 of the amplifier 80 and has one or more fiber components with central wavelengths similarly shifted in a negative direction.
- the two gain flattening filters 92 and 94 produce a combined response that reduce the combined gain ripple of the amplifiers 78 and 80 , while also reducing gain ripple transmitted through the fiber span 82 .
- FIG. 8 depicts an optical amplifying system 96 with a similar arrangement of optical amplifiers 98 and 100 separated by a fiber span 102 .
- the amplifiers 98 and 100 are formed by pairs of doped fiber coils 104 and 106 or 108 and 110 ; and a gain flattening filter 112 having one or more fiber components with central wavelengths shifted in a positive direction is positioned between the coils 104 and 106 of the amplifier 98 .
- a tunable gain flattening filter 114 is positioned between the coils 108 and 110 of the amplifier 100 .
- At least one fiber component of the tunable gain flattening filter 114 is tuned to shift the central wavelength of its response in an opposite direction to balance the central wavelength deviations of the gain flattening filter 112 .
- the tuning can be accomplished statically, such as during manufacture, or dynamically, such as during use. Either positive or negative directions of wavelength tuning can be used to compensate for or augment the response of the paired filter 112 , which itself can exhibit either positive or negative directions of central wavelength shift.
- FIG. 9 depicts an optical amplifying system 116 having a single amplifier formed by a pair of erbium doped fiber coils 118 and 120 .
- a compound gain flattening filter 122 which is positioned between the coils 118 and 120 , is formed by a succession of filter components 124 , 126 , 128 , and 130 .
- the filter component 124 is divided into a pair of sub-components 132 and 134 having central wavelengths of response that are shifted in opposite directions.
- the filter component 124 can be selected among the other components 126 , 128 , and 130 for subdivision because the accuracy of its central wavelength of response disproportionately effects a desired response of the filter 122 or is most closely associated with the wavelength range of the desired amplification.
- filter components 126 , 128 , or 130 could also be subdivided to contribute further to an improved total response without necessarily manufacturing the sub-components to any higher accuracy than the remaining components.
- One or the other of the sub-components 132 and 134 of the filter component 124 could also be statically or dynamically tuned to provide the appropriate central wavelength balance among the paired sub-components.
- the balancing of any one or more pairs of sub-components can be also taken with regard to variations in the peak losses of the sub-components.
- a sub-component that exhibits a peak loss of 55 percent of the peak loss of the component it replaces can be paired with a sub-component exhibiting 45 percent of the same peak loss.
- the central wavelength of the sub-component exhibiting a greater proportion of the peak loss can be offset a little less than the central wavelength of the sub-component exhibiting a lesser proportion of the peak loss to provide a weighted balancing.
- Such weighted balancing is subject to tuning both peak loss and central wavelength.
- the components of gain flattening filters can also be divided into groups larger than pairs for similar purposes.
- Both the components and the sub-components proposed for use in this invention are preferably long period gratings having Gaussian response profiles.
- a good fit to the target loss spectrum can be achieved with a combination of four independent Gaussian response profiles.
- These, of course, can be subdivided in accordance with our invention to loosen tolerances.
- Best fit algorithms are known to those of skill in the art for fitting Gaussian profiles to curves with more complex shapes.
- Our new compound gain flattening filters can also be constructed with other filter types and response profiles including fiber Bragg gratings and thin film gratings.
- the amplifiers of choice presently are erbium amplifiers, but other amplifiers working in the same or different spectrums could also be used.
Abstract
Description
- Optical amplifiers produce spectrally related variations in gain that can be reduced by gain flattening filters having compensating spectral responses. The gain flattening filters, which are sometimes required to exhibit complex response profiles, can be assembled from filter components that exhibit simpler response profiles.
- The complex spectral responses that are sometimes required of gain flattening filters can be approximated by concatenating filter components with simpler filter responses. Such compound gain flattening filters can be formed by concatenating conventional filters with spectral response profiles distinguished by their peak losses and their central wavelengths.
- Best fit algorithms solve for the peak loss and central wavelength characteristics of the filter components to approximate a target loss spectrum. However, manufacturing even simple filter components with Gaussian response profiles can be difficult to achieve to desired accuracy. The resulting filter errors (i.e., insertion loss error function), which are largely due to unintended shifts in the central wavelengths of the filter components, can leave excessive gain ripple representing uneven amplification of the desired transmission spectrum.
- Long period gratings with Gaussian response profiles can be used as filter components of compound gain flattening filters. Manufacturing these filter components to central wavelength accuracies less than one-half nanometer is difficult, and errors of only one Angstrom can produce significantly deteriorated results. Discarding gratings outside of tolerance and trial and error tuning are two approaches to meeting desired tolerances. Both are time consuming and expensive——the first due mainly to wasted efforts and the second due mainly to repeated efforts.
- We have discovered that compound gain flattening filters can be assembled from a series of simpler filter components having wider tolerances than those normally prescribed but without the expected errors. Residual gain ripple from new amplifier and filter combinations can be minimized by approaching a best fit loss spectrum for the filters. Higher manufacturing yields are possible by utilizing filter components that would normally be considered outside acceptable tolerance.
- Our new compound gain flattening filters can be manufactured using certain conventional steps including determining a filter desired loss spectrum and using a conventional algorithm to fit the desired loss spectrum with a series of filter components having individual spectral responses with peak losses specified at different wavelengths. However, instead of manufacturing a single set of filter components matching these specifications, at least a first of the filter components is fashioned from a pair of filter sub-components with similar spectral responses. The peak losses of the filter sub-components sum to the intended peak loss of the first filter component, and the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components also average to the specified central wavelength of the first filter component. However, the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components are offset in opposite directions with respect to the specified central wavelength of the first filter component for utilizing filter sub-components with wider range tolerances. The resulting response of the compound gain flattening filter is closer to the desired loss spectrum than if the central wavelength of the first filter were similarly offset in either direction.
- Compound gain flattening filters can be made in accordance with our invention by dividing an entire series of filter components into two sets of filter sub-components. The central wavelengths of all of the filter sub-components of the first set are shifted in a positive direction and the central wavelengths of the filter sub-components of the second set are shifted in a negative direction, both with respect to the prescribed central wavelengths of the filter component series. Together, the two sets of filter sub-components produce an actual spectral filter response that is closer to the desired loss spectrum than if the central wavelengths of the series of filter components were similarly shifted in either direction.
- The two sets of filter sub-components are particularly useful for reducing gain ripple of paired amplifiers having similar gain outputs, especially amplifiers separated by a fiber span. One set is positioned within one of the amplifiers, and the other set is positioned within the other amplifier. The gain ripples of the two amplifiers are separately reduced, avoiding amplifier-to-amplifier transmissions that are not appropriately corrected.
- The filter sub-components of our invention are preferably made according to usual manufacturing practices, but are sorted following manufacture according to their shift from prescribed central wavelengths. For example, those shifted in a positive direction can be paired with those shifted by a similar amount in a negative direction so that the average central wavelength of the pair approaches the prescribed central wavelength. A similar balance can be achieved by larger combinations of sub-components having central wavelengths distributed about a prescribed mean.
- Instead of or in addition to sorting by pairs or other combinations, tuning can be used to intentionally offset the central wavelength of one member of a combination to balance an opposite direction of offset exhibited by one or more other members of the combination. Tuning can also be practiced upon the one member to balance the filter central wavelengths in a static or dynamic fashion to accommodate changing conditions of use.
- The sensitivity of the actual filter response to central wavelength errors varies among the series filter components. Central wavelength errors of filter components with particularly sharp profiles or large losses can contribute to insertion loss errors more than other filter components with similar wavelength errors but with flatter profiles. Thus, wider tolerances of central wavelength can be accommodated for filter components with flatter profiles. In the practice of our invention, just the filter components having the sharper profiles can be subdivided into balanced wavelength sub-components for reducing the number of required filter components and sub-components without requiring stricter tolerances for the sharper profile filter components.
- The desired loss spectrum for the compound gain flattening filters represents the best fit of a combination of theoretical filter components varying in peak loss and central wavelength. However, the best fit of the series of filter components is still an approximation of a target loss spectrum required to entirely eliminate gain ripple.
- FIG. 1 is a graph of individual spectral responses of individual filter components intended to provide an approximate fit to a target loss spectrum.
- FIG. 2 is a graph of an insertion loss error function representing a difference between the target loss spectrum and the sum of individual spectral responses of the filter components.
- FIG. 3 is a graph of two different insertion loss error functions contrasting the effects of shifting central wavelengths of the component responses in opposite directions by approximately one Angstrom.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram comparing a conventional compound gain flattening filter to a new compound gain flattening filter with components subdivided into pairs.
- FIG. 5 is a graph that compares the insertion loss error functions resulting from various central wavelength shifts of pairs of filter sub-components replacing the filter components.
- FIG. 6 is a diagram of an optical amplification system showing two sets of filter sub-components located between amplifier coils.
- FIG. 7 is a diagram of an optical amplification system showing sets of filter components located within amplifier stages separated by a fiber span.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6 in which one of the filter sets is tunable.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram of an optical amplification system in which one of several filter components is divided into a pair of sub-components between amplifier coils.
- A typical compound gain flattening filter includes a series of filter components that exhibit individual spectral responses such as the
spectral responses responses spectral response 10 has a peak loss of 8.0 decibels at a central wavelength of approximately 1533 nanometers, and thespectral response 12 has a peak loss of 2 decibels at a central wavelength of approximately 1543 nanometers. - Also shown in the graph of FIG. 1 is a
target loss spectrum 18, which is chosen to reduce or eliminate gain ripple of a particular amplifier. A best fit algorithm is used to determine the peak losses and the central wavelengths of thecomponent responses target loss spectrum 18. However, the fit is generally not perfect and some error results. FIG. 2 depicts an insertionloss error function 20 representing this error calculated as a difference between thetarget loss spectrum 18 and the combinedresponses - The insertion
loss error function 20 can easily be worsened by small errors in the component responses, particularly errors in the central wavelengths of the responses. For example, FIG. 3 depicts the effects of 0.1 nanometer (one Angstrom) changes in the central wavelengths of thespectral responses loss error function 22 results from a positive shift of the central wavelengths of the fourspectral responses loss error function 24 results from a negative shift of the central wavelengths of the same spectral responses by a similar amount. In comparison to the insertionloss error function 20, the insertionloss error functions - Designing and manufacturing even simple Gaussian response filters, such as long period gratings, to central wavelength accuracies less than one Angstrom is presently difficult, requiring, for example, large numbers of filters to be discarded or extensive trial and error efforts to achieve the required accuracy. However, we have found that central wavelength errors of one Angstrom or more can be accommodated by dividing the filter components into pairs of sub-components that are sorted or otherwise arranged to balance the central wavelength errors.
- FIG. 4 depicts an example of a conventional gain flattening filter26 and its relationship to a gain
flattening filter 28 in accordance with our invention. The conventional gain flattening filter 26 is formed along a fiber 30 by a series offilter components gain flattening filter 28, which is formed along asimilar fiber 40. The newgain flatting filter 28 replaces thecomponents sub-components - FIG. 5 compares an insertion
loss error function 50 produced by the newgain flattening filter 28 in which the paired sub-components are shifted in opposite directions by one Angstrom to the insertion loss error functions 52 and 54 produced by shifting both sub-components of each pair in the same positive or negative directions. The latter error functions 52 and 54 equate to the errors expected from shifting the central wavelengths of thefilter components loss error function 50 with respect to the error functions 52 and 54 associated with similar magnitudes of central wavelength shifts that are not balanced. - Thus, pairing sub-components (e.g.,42 a and 42 b) with balanced central wavelengths allows for the use of sub-components having a wider range of central wavelengths in compound gain flattening filters. Normally, such filter components with similar deviations in central wavelength would be discarded or subject to further processing; but in accordance with this invention, filter sub-components with wavelength deviations in one direction can be paired together with other filter components with similar wavelength deviations in an opposite direction. The pairing can include sorting the sub-components by central wavelength and assembling the pairs from among the sorted sub-components or tuning the central wavelength of one member of a pair to balance a central wavelength deviation of the other member of the pair.
- The remaining drawing figures depict optical amplification systems incorporating compound gain flattening filters with wavelength balanced filters. For example, an
amplification system 56 depicted in FIG. 6 includes anamplifier 58 formed by two erbium dopedcoils 62 and 64 and a compoundgain flattening filter 66 formed by two sets offilter sub-components filter 66. The sub-components of theset 68 have central wavelengths that are shifted in a positive direction, and the sub-components of theset 70 have central wavelengths that are similarly shifted in a negative direction. All of the sub-components are preferably formed by long period gratings having Gaussian response profiles. - FIG. 7 depicts an
optical amplifying system 76 with concatenatedoptical amplifiers fiber span 82. Each of theamplifiers gain flattening filter 92 is positioned between thecoils 84 and 86 of theamplifier 78 and has one or more fiber components with central wavelengths shifted in a positive direction. Again flattening filter 94 is positioned between thecoils 88 and 90 of theamplifier 80 and has one or more fiber components with central wavelengths similarly shifted in a negative direction. The two gain flattening filters 92 and 94 produce a combined response that reduce the combined gain ripple of theamplifiers fiber span 82. - FIG. 8 depicts an
optical amplifying system 96 with a similar arrangement ofoptical amplifiers fiber span 102. Again, theamplifiers gain flattening filter 112 having one or more fiber components with central wavelengths shifted in a positive direction is positioned between the coils 104 and 106 of theamplifier 98. However, in contrast to the preceding embodiment, a tunablegain flattening filter 114 is positioned between thecoils amplifier 100. At least one fiber component of the tunablegain flattening filter 114 is tuned to shift the central wavelength of its response in an opposite direction to balance the central wavelength deviations of thegain flattening filter 112. The tuning can be accomplished statically, such as during manufacture, or dynamically, such as during use. Either positive or negative directions of wavelength tuning can be used to compensate for or augment the response of the pairedfilter 112, which itself can exhibit either positive or negative directions of central wavelength shift. - FIG. 9 depicts an
optical amplifying system 116 having a single amplifier formed by a pair of erbium doped fiber coils 118 and 120. A compound gain flattening filter 122, which is positioned between thecoils filter components filter component 124 is divided into a pair of sub-components 132 and 134 having central wavelengths of response that are shifted in opposite directions. Thefilter component 124 can be selected among theother components filter components filter component 124 could also be statically or dynamically tuned to provide the appropriate central wavelength balance among the paired sub-components. - The balancing of any one or more pairs of sub-components can be also taken with regard to variations in the peak losses of the sub-components. For example, a sub-component that exhibits a peak loss of55 percent of the peak loss of the component it replaces can be paired with a sub-component exhibiting 45 percent of the same peak loss. In addition, the central wavelength of the sub-component exhibiting a greater proportion of the peak loss can be offset a little less than the central wavelength of the sub-component exhibiting a lesser proportion of the peak loss to provide a weighted balancing. Such weighted balancing is subject to tuning both peak loss and central wavelength. The components of gain flattening filters can also be divided into groups larger than pairs for similar purposes.
- Both the components and the sub-components proposed for use in this invention are preferably long period gratings having Gaussian response profiles. Generally, a good fit to the target loss spectrum can be achieved with a combination of four independent Gaussian response profiles. These, of course, can be subdivided in accordance with our invention to loosen tolerances. Best fit algorithms are known to those of skill in the art for fitting Gaussian profiles to curves with more complex shapes.
- Our new compound gain flattening filters can also be constructed with other filter types and response profiles including fiber Bragg gratings and thin film gratings. The amplifiers of choice presently are erbium amplifiers, but other amplifiers working in the same or different spectrums could also be used.
Claims (61)
Priority Applications (1)
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US09/426,051 US6445493B2 (en) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-10-25 | Balanced gain flattening filters |
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US11777399P | 1999-01-29 | 1999-01-29 | |
US09/426,051 US6445493B2 (en) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-10-25 | Balanced gain flattening filters |
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US20020005981A1 true US20020005981A1 (en) | 2002-01-17 |
US6445493B2 US6445493B2 (en) | 2002-09-03 |
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US09/426,051 Expired - Fee Related US6445493B2 (en) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-10-25 | Balanced gain flattening filters |
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US (1) | US6445493B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1151506A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002536822A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1350710A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2184000A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2361006A1 (en) |
TW (1) | TW434428B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000045479A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2837577A1 (en) * | 2002-03-21 | 2003-09-26 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | GAIN FLOWING FILTER AND APLANI GAIN OPTIC FIBER AMPLIFIER EMPLOYING THE SAME |
Families Citing this family (11)
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CA2266195C (en) * | 1999-03-19 | 2004-12-21 | Itf Optical Technologies Inc.-Technologies Optiques Itf Inc. | Optical clean-up filters and method of making the same |
JP2003069116A (en) * | 2001-08-22 | 2003-03-07 | Fujitsu Ltd | Optical amplifier and gain deviation compensation method |
AU2003235979A1 (en) * | 2002-05-09 | 2003-11-11 | Nikon Corporation | Optical filter module and light amplifier using the module |
US20050031356A1 (en) * | 2002-09-24 | 2005-02-10 | Mikiya Suzuki | Optical module |
US7006280B2 (en) * | 2002-12-17 | 2006-02-28 | Jds Uniphase Corporation | Multi-stage filtered optical amplifier |
CN1295900C (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2007-01-17 | 武汉光迅科技股份有限公司 | Mixed type dynamic light gain equilibrium method used in WDM system |
GB0410233D0 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2004-06-09 | Bookham Technology Plc | Gain-flattening apparatus and methods and optical amplifiers employing same |
US7602545B2 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2009-10-13 | Bookham Technology, Plc | Gain-flattening apparatus and methods and optical amplifiers employing same |
US7769295B2 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2010-08-03 | Bookham Technology Plc | Dual beam splitter optical micro-components and systems and methods employing same |
US8699125B2 (en) * | 2008-02-13 | 2014-04-15 | Jds Uniphase Corporation | Reconfigurable optical amplifier |
US8233214B2 (en) | 2008-02-13 | 2012-07-31 | Maxim Bolshtyansky | Optical fiber amplifier and a control method therefor |
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US5583689A (en) | 1992-06-01 | 1996-12-10 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Filter with preselected attenuation/wavelength characteristic |
JPH09191303A (en) * | 1996-01-09 | 1997-07-22 | Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co Ltd <Kdd> | Optical transmission line |
JPH09289349A (en) * | 1996-04-23 | 1997-11-04 | Nec Corp | Optical equalizer, optical amplifier using it and wavelength-multiple optical transmitter |
JP3512050B2 (en) | 1996-06-11 | 2004-03-29 | 住友電気工業株式会社 | Optical filter and optical transmission system |
US5757540A (en) | 1996-09-06 | 1998-05-26 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Long-period fiber grating devices packaged for temperature stability |
US6151157A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-11-21 | Uniphase Telecommunications Products, Inc. | Dynamic optical amplifier |
JPH1187812A (en) * | 1997-09-12 | 1999-03-30 | Fujitsu Ltd | Gain equalizer and optical transmission system provided therewith |
-
1999
- 1999-10-25 US US09/426,051 patent/US6445493B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1999-12-14 CN CN99815876A patent/CN1350710A/en active Pending
- 1999-12-14 EP EP99966253A patent/EP1151506A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-12-14 CA CA002361006A patent/CA2361006A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-12-14 WO PCT/US1999/029736 patent/WO2000045479A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-12-14 JP JP2000596635A patent/JP2002536822A/en active Pending
- 1999-12-14 AU AU21840/00A patent/AU2184000A/en not_active Abandoned
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FR2837577A1 (en) * | 2002-03-21 | 2003-09-26 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | GAIN FLOWING FILTER AND APLANI GAIN OPTIC FIBER AMPLIFIER EMPLOYING THE SAME |
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CN1350710A (en) | 2002-05-22 |
AU2184000A (en) | 2000-08-18 |
TW434428B (en) | 2001-05-16 |
WO2000045479A1 (en) | 2000-08-03 |
CA2361006A1 (en) | 2000-08-03 |
EP1151506A1 (en) | 2001-11-07 |
US6445493B2 (en) | 2002-09-03 |
JP2002536822A (en) | 2002-10-29 |
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