Patent ID: 7272276
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: G01J,G02B,H04B,H04J

Abstract:
1. An optical performance monitor for measuring the performance of optical networks, comprising: a demultiplexer for demultiplexing an input beam into a plurality of wavelength channels; an array of divided output waveguides, each divided output waveguide positioned to receive a corresponding demultiplexed wavelength channel from said demultiplexer, and each divided output waveguide laterally separating said corresponding demultiplexed wavelength into a first portion and a second portion; an undivided output waveguide between adjacent pairs of divided output waveguides, positioned to receive background noise signals having wavelengths between said demultiplexed wavelength channels; and a detector array having sensor elements positioned to receive said respective first and second portions of said demultiplexed wavelength channels and said background noise signals for comparing the intensity of radiation received by said divided output waveguides with the intensity of said noise signal to determine a signal-to-noise ratio for each of said demultiplexed wavelength channels.