Patent ID: 6144488
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G02F,H01S,H04B

Abstract:
An optically amplifying device with a gain equalizing function comprising: an optical fiber amplifier for receiving, as an input, a wavelength division multiplexed signal light beam which has been obtained by wavelength-division multiplexing a plurality of signal light beams having wavelengths different from one another to output the amplified signal light beam containing the plurality of signal light beams, which is obtained by optically amplifying the wavelength division multiplexed signal light beam; and a gain equalizer for receiving, as an input, the amplified signal light beam to optically amplify the plurality of signal light beams thus amplified to equalize the optical output levels thereof, thereby outputting the equalized amplified signal light beams,wherein said gain equalizer includes a semiconductor optical amplifier and the gain for each of the plurality of signal light beams of said semiconductor optical amplifier is set in such a way that when the gain for each of the plurality of signal light beams of said semiconductor optical amplifier is superimposed on the gain for each of the plurality of signal light beams of said optical fiber amplifier, the gain difference between the signal light beams is cancelled out.