Patent ID: 6657774
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
An optical amplifier system comprising:(i) a distributed Raman fiber; (ii) a discrete Raman fiber amplifier that includes a gain medium and a dispersion compensated fiber forming at least a part of said gain medium, said discrete Raman fiber amplifier being operatively connected and optically coupled to said distributed Raman fiber amplifier, whereby it will amplify signals received from said distributed Raman fiber amplifier; (iii) at least one source of optical pump power coupled to both of said distributed Raman fiber amplifier and said discrete Raman fiber amplifier through two independent optical paths, whereby the distributed Raman fiber amplifier and the discrete Raman amplifier simultaneously share the optical pump power provided by said source; and (iv) a controller operatively connected to a variable switch coupler, said controller in conjunction with said variable switch coupler controlling the amount of optical pump power provided to said discrete Raman amplifier and said distributed Raman amplifier, such that the ratio of optical pump powers provided to said amplifiers is capable of varying.