Patent ID: 6587260
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
An amplification band-expanding method for optical amplifying means, comprising:a first step of adding on a second transmission band by changing a second pump laser source used to amplify a second optical signal of said second transmission band in an optical amplifying means from a non-pumping state to a pumping state while a first pump laser source used to amplify a first optical signal of a first transmission band in said optical amplifying means is pumped and amplifies said first optical signal in said optical amplifying means, said second transmission band and said first transmission band being different from each other; and a second step of controlling the output of said first pump laser source and said second pump laser source using a predetermined transition during a transition add-on period when said second pump laser source is changed from a non-pumping state to a pumping state in said first step, to maintain an approximation of the gain characteristic of said first transmission band in real-time throughout the transition add-on period of said second transmission band, to substantially the gain characteristic of said first transmission band before the transition add-on period of said second transmission band.