Patent ID: 6476953
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A wavelength preserving optical regenerator comprising:an optical-to-electrical conversion unit with an input to receive an optical signal at a first wavelength; a retiming and regeneration circuit with an input coupled to an output of the optical-to-electrical conversion unit; an electrical-to-optical conversion unit with an input coupled to an output of the retiming and regeneration circuit, the electrical-to-optical conversion unit operable to receive an electrical signal and generate an optical signal based on the electrical signal, the electrical-to-optical conversion unit including a tunable laser that can be tuned so that the wavelength of the optical signal generated by the electrical-to-optical conversion unit has a fixed relationship with the first wavelength; and an optical monitor including a first optical input coupled to the input of the optical-to-electrical conversion unit and a second optical input coupled to an output of the electrical-to-optical conversion unit, the optical monitor further comprising a control output coupled to the electrical-to-optical conversion unit such that a signal output from the control output can be used to tune the wavelength of the optical signal generated by the electrical-to-optical conversion unit.