Optical transmission system and amplifier control apparatuses and methods

Abstract

Optical systems of the present invention generally include an optical signal controller disposed along an optical link between two optical nodes. The optical signal controller is configured to provide a monitoring signal from an optical signal passing between the nodes as a plurality of wavelength sub-bands at least one of which includes a plurality of signal channels. The controller generates a compensating channel having an optical power that is a function of the monitoring signal power in the plurality of wavelength sub-bands or total power. The compensating channel is combined with the optical signal to compensate for power variations in the optical signal passing between the nodes. In addition, the compensating channels can be used to transmit communication or system supervisory information between monitoring points and/or nodes in the system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an optical signal controller configured to provide a monitoring signal from an optical signal in a plurality of sub-band signals at least one of which includes a plurality of optical signal channels, and control the characteristics of the optical signal based on the sub-band signal characteristics.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said optical signal controller is configured to combine a compensating channel having a power based on the sub-band signal powers to control the characteristics of the optical signal.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said controller includes a plurality of compensating channel sources providing compensating channels having powers based on the sub-band signal powers.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said plurality of compensating channel sources is configured to compensate for power variations in said other compensating sources.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said controller includes at least one compensating channel source for each of the plurality of sub-bands.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said controller includes one compensating channel source for each sub-band and each of said compensating sources provides a sub-band compensating channel at a wavelength within the sub-band and the power of the sub-band compensating channel is controlled to maintain an optical signal gain profile within the sub-bands.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said controller includes: 
 an optical distributor configured to provide the monitoring signal from an optical transmission fiber carrying the optical signal;    a sub-band demultiplexer configured to separate the monitoring signal and provide the plurality of sub-band signals to sub-band control loops, wherein each sub-band control loop includes: 
 an optical to electrical converter configured to receive one of the sub-band signals and provide a sub-band input signal;  
 a sub-band input comparator configured to compare the sub-band input signal power to a set point power level and provide a sub-band input error;  
 a source controller configured to vary the optical power of a sub-band compensating channel provided by a sub-band compensating source in response to the sub-band input error;  
   a multiplexer configured to combine the sub-band compensating channels from said control loops into a compensating channel; and,    an optical combiner configured to combine the compensating channel with the optical signal channels in said transmission fiber.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said optical combiner combines the compensating channel with the optical signal before said optical distributor provides the monitoring signal.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said optical combiner includes an optical circulator having a first port configured to receive the compensating channel from said multiplexer, a second port configured to receive the optical signal from an input portion of said transmission fiber and including at least one reflective element positioned to reflect the compensating channel back to the second port, and a third port configured to provide the optical signal and the compensating channel to an output portion of said transmission fiber.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said demultiplexer is configured to provide a plurality of sub-band signals in non-overlapping wavelength ranges.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said signal controller includes: 
 a wideband detector configured to receive a portion of the monitoring signal and provide wideband monitoring signal;    a summing circuit configured to receive a portion of the sub-band input signal and provide a composite sub-band signal; and,    an input offset comparator configured to compare the composite sub-band signal and the wideband signal and provide an input offset error to each of said control loops.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said input comparator provides the input offset error equally to each of said control loops.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said input comparator provides the input offset error to each of said control loops based on the set point power levels of said sub-band control loop.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 each of said sub-band control loops is configured to detect a sub-band control loop failure and provide a failure error signal; and,    said signal controller includes a fault summing circuit configured to receive the failure error signal from said sub-band control loops and provide a cumulative failure error signal to said sub-band control loops.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cumulative failure error is distributed to each of the sub-band control loops and combined with the sub-band input signal.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cumulative failure error is distributed to each of the sub-band control loops and combined with the sub-band input error signal.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said source controller is configured to calibrate said sub-band source.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said source controller is configured to apply at least one test bias to said sub-band source in lieu of said input error, detect a corresponding sub-band compensating channel power provided by said sub-band source, and calibrate said sub-band source in response to the detected sub-band compensating channel power.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said signal controller includes: 
 an optical spectrum analyzer configured to detect at least a portion of the sub-band compensating channel from said sub-band source being calibrated and provide a detected sub-band compensating channel power; and,    a central processor configured to receive the detected sub-band compensating channel power and the corresponding test bias and provide a sub-band source calibration to said source controller.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said source controller is configured to vary the power provided by said sub-band source by directly modulating the optical power provided by said sub-band source.  
     
     
         21 . An optical system comprising: 
 at least two optical nodes configured to pass an optical signal via an optical transmission fiber between said at least two nodes; and,    an optical signal controller configured to provide a portion of an optical signal as a monitoring signal in a plurality of sub-band signals at least one of which includes a plurality of optical signal channels, and control the characteristics of the optical signal based on the sub-band signal characteristics.    
     
     
         22 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said optical signal controller is configured to combine a compensating channel having a power based on the sub-band signal powers to control the characteristics of the optical signal.  
     
     
         23 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said system includes at least one optical amplifier disposed along said transmission fiber; and,    said optical signal controller is configured to separate a portion of the optical signal into a plurality of wavelength sub-band signals and combine a compensating channel having a power sufficient to maintain a gain profile in the optical signal amplified by said at least one optical amplifier.    
     
     
         24 . The optical system of  claim 23 , wherein said signal controller is configured to receive a feedback signal from said at least one amplifier and control the power of at least one of the compensating channels.  
     
     
         25 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said system includes at least one optical amplifier disposed along said transmission fiber; and,    said optical signal controller is configured to separate a portion of the optical signal into a plurality of sub-band signals and control the gain profile of the optical signal being amplified by said at least one amplifier based on the sub-band signal powers.    
     
     
         26 . The optical system of  claim 25 , wherein said optical signal controller controls the amplification of the optical signals by varying the optical energy supplied by a pump source to said at least one amplifier based on the sub-band signal powers.  
     
     
         27 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said system includes at least one optical amplifier to amplify the optical signal within a wavelength range;    said controller is configured to control variations in the amplification of the optical signal over the wavelength range by varying the compensating channel powers based on the sub-band signal powers.    
     
     
         28 . The optical system of  claim 27 , wherein said controller is configured to maintain a gain profile in the optical signal over the wavelength range.  
     
     
         29 . The optical system of  claim 27 , wherein said controller is configured to maintain a gain profile in the optical signal in the sub-band wavelength range by varying the power of a compensating channel at a wavelength within the sub-band wavelength range.  
     
     
         30 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a first of said optical nodes includes at least an optical transmitter configured to transmit the optical signal in the optical transmission fiber;    a second of said optical nodes includes at least an optical receiver configured to receive the optical signal transmitted in said optical transmission fiber; and,    at least one optical amplifier disposed along said transmission fiber and configured to amplify the optical signal within a wavelength range; and,    said optical signal controller is configured to combine a compensating channel having a power to maintain a constant amplification of the optical signal by said amplifier.    
     
     
         31 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said system includes a network management system in communication with said signal controller; and,    said signal controller includes at least one central processor configured to control said sub-band control loops and communicate with said network management system.    
     
     
         32 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said nodes include optical components selected from the group consisting of optical transmitters, optical receivers, optical routers, optical add/drop devices, optical switches, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The optical system of  claim 21 , wherein said signal controller provides a compensating channel carrying at least one of communication signals and system supervisory signals.  
     
     
         34 . The optical system of  claim 33 , wherein said controller provides a compensating channel carrying supervisory signals between said nodes.  
     
     
         35 . A method of controlling optical signal characteristics comprising: 
 providing an monitoring signal from an optical signal;    separating the monitoring signal into a plurality of sub-band signals, one of which includes a plurality of optical signal channels;    controlling the characteristics of the optical signal based on characteristics of the sub-band signals.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said controlling includes: 
 generating at least one compensating channel to control at least one characteristic of the optical signal based on the at least one characteristic in the sub-band signals;    combining the at least one compensating channel with the optical signal.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 said method includes amplifying the optical signal; and,    said generating includes generating a compensating channel for each of the sub-band signals to maintain a constant amplification of each channel in the optical signals being amplified.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said controlling includes clamping the gain of at least one compensating channel being amplified.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said generating includes generating at least one compensating channel to maintain a constant power in the optical signal based on the sub-band signal powers.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said generating includes generating at least one compensating channel for each of the sub-band signals to maintain a constant power in each sub-band of the optical signal.