Patent ID: 6163395
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H04B,H04N

Abstract:
An optical transmission system comprising:a laser source that produces an optical carrier signal;an optical splitter having an input coupled to the laser that splits the optical carrier signal into a plurality of split carrier signals wherein the optical splitter comprises a plurality of twisted pneumatic liquid crystal polarizers for splitting the optical carrier signal into a plurality of split carrier signals having unequal power levels;a transmitter coupled to a splitter output and comprising:a modulator driver for producing a driver signal; andan external modulator having a driver input for receiving the driver signal, and an optical input for receiving a split carrier signal, the modulator modulating the split carrier signal with the driver signal to produce a modulated output signal;a distortion correction subsystem that corrects for distortion of the split carrier signal by the external modulator; anda fiber optic transmission system coupled to the transmitter that receives the modulated output signal.