Patent ID: 7224516
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method of amplifying optical signals comprising: (a) receiving an input optical signal from an optical signal source on a multimode fiber forming a signal path; (b) measuring strength of said input optical signal along said signal path; (c) amplifying said input optical signal in a multimode format subsequent said measuring of said optical signal strength and filtering noise from said amplified optical signal, wherein said amplification and filtering of said multimode optical signal include a plurality of amplification stages successively coupled to each other, and wherein step (c) further includes for each stage: (d) receiving and attenuating said amplified optical signal from a final one of said amplification stages to produce an attenuated signal; (e) filtering said attenuated signal and providing a resulting amplified signal within a desired band; and (f) measuring strength of said resulting amplified signal and collectively controlling said amplification of said input optical signal by said amplification stages, said attenuation of said amplified optical signal and said filtering of said attenuated signal to control the gain of said resulting amplified signal in accordance with at least said measured signal strengths.