Patent ID: 6996323
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a plurality of eVOAs connected to a microcontroller inserted in optical paths of optical signals propagating in an optical network, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting an eVOA from the plurality of eVOAs; (b) operating the selected eVOA according to a predetermined method of controlling said eVOA within a time slice allocated for the selected eVOA; and (c) repeating the steps (a) to (b) until all eVOAs from the plurality of the eVOAs have been selected; and (d) repeating the steps (a) to (c) as required, wherein the step (b) of operating the selected eVOA comprises: measuring the optical signal power at the output of the selected eVOA; and setting the attenuation of the selected eVOA to a substantially maximum attenuation (MaxAtt) and modulating the attenuation said eVOA by decreasing and increasing the eVOA attenuation in finite steps until the optical power is detected above the LOS power threshold or the maximum attenuation (MaxAtt) is reached.