Patent ID: 8699125
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A reconfigurable optical amplifier (ROA), comprising: an input ROA port for receiving light signal; an output ROA port for outputting an amplified light signal; two photonic lightwave circuit (PLC) switches optically coupled in series for forming two switchable optical paths between the input and output ROA ports, wherein the two PLC switches are formed in a same PLC chip; a first fiber amplifier section (FAS) optically coupled between the two PLC switches in one of the two switchable optical paths; a second FAS optically coupled between the two PLC switches in the other of the two switchable optical paths, or in a common portion of the two switchable optical paths; an optical pump source for generating pump light for pumping the first and second FASs; and, a variable pump splitter comprising an input port optically coupled to the optical pump source for receiving the pump light therefrom, and first and second output ports coupled to the first and second FASs, respectively, for directing the pump light to variably pump one or both of the first and second FAS therewith in dependence upon switching states of the first and second PLC switches.