Patent ID: 7400835
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
1. An optical communication device, comprising: a first multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and an output, each of said plurality of inputs receiving a respective one of a first plurality of optical signals, each of said first plurality of optical signals having a corresponding one of a first plurality of wavelengths, each of said first plurality of optical signals conforming to a CS-RZ modulation format; a variable dispersion compensating element coupled to said output, said variable dispersion compensating element being configured to provide tailored dispersion compensation for said first plurality of optical signals, and said output supplying said first plurality of optical signals to said first dispersion compensating element; a second multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and an output, each of said plurality of inputs of said second multiplexer receiving a respective one of a second plurality of optical signals, each of said second plurality of optical signals having a corresponding one of a second plurality of wavelengths; and a third multiplexer having a first input, a second input and an output, said first input being coupled to said dispersion compensating element and receiving said first plurality of optical signals, said second input being coupled to said output of said second multiplexer and receiving said second plurality of optical signals, and said output carrying said first and second pluralities of optical signals; a control circuit, said control circuit being configured to generate a control signal to adjust a temperature of a thermoelectric cooler, said thermoelectric cooler being coupled to said variable dispersion compensation element, which is adjusted in response to said control signal, wherein said control signal is responsive to measured downstream bit error rate; wherein said optical communication device is a combiner circuit; wherein the first plurality of wavelengths comprise a wavelength grouping with each of the first plurality of wavelengths located adjacent to another of the first plurality of wavelengths in the wavelength grouping, and wherein none of the second plurality of wavelengths are located within the wavelength grouping; wherein the tailored dispersion compensation for said first plurality of optical signals is responsive to the wavelengths in the wavelength grouping; wherein said dispersion compensation element is located between said first multiplexer and said third multiplexer within the combiner circuit; and wherein said first plurality of optical signals has been provided with selective dispersion compensation prior to being multiplexed with said second plurality of optical signals onto an optical communication path comprising an optical fiber and prior to exiting the combiner circuit.