Patent ID: 7961380
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. Method for amplifying an optical signal in a rare-earth-doped fiber amplifier (REDFA), the REDFA comprising an amplifying medium and an optical pump for pumping the amplifying medium, the optical pump control operating in a constant power control mode, where a first pump power level is capable of producing the constant power control mode, the method comprising the sequential steps of: (a) directing an input optical signal through the amplifying medium, (b) optically pumping the amplifying medium with the optical pump to produce an amplifier output signal, (c) attenuating the amplifier output signal using a fixed value optical attenuator with an attenuation of at least 10% to produce an attenuated amplifier output signal, (d) feeding back a portion of the attenuated amplifier output signal to the optical pump control causing an adjustment in the optical pump power to elevate the pump power level to achieve the constant power control mode.