Patent ID: 7791792
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for suppressing optical power transients, comprising: a variable optical attenuator receiving an input optical signal and outputting an output optical signal; an optical power sensing element optically coupled to the output optical signal, said optical power sensing element sensing a portion of the output optical signal and outputting a signal indicative of output optical power of the output optical signal; and a feedback loop controller operatively coupled to said variable optical attenuator and to said optical power sensing element; said feedback control loop providing feedback control of said variable optical attenuator to reduce optical power transients of the input optical signal and maintain a substantially constant output power based on the signal indicative of the output optical power and a reference value; said variable optical attenuator having a default opaque state in which the input optical signal is substantially attenuated when power is not being supplied to said variable optical attenuator; and said feedback control loop providing control of said variable optical attenuator to reduce optical power transients and maintain a substantially constant output power based on the output optical power measured by said optical power sensing element and a reference value, wherein said reference value comprises a value proportional to one of a desired output power level and a desired optical attenuation, and wherein said reference value is adjustable by a user.