Patent ID: 6064681
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
A optical transmitter for use in a WDM system having a multiplicity of channels each operating at a different channel wavelength, said transmitter comprisinga DBR semiconductor laser, the output of said laser having a center wavelength and at least one side mode, said center wavelength being responsive to tuning current applied to said laser,a feedback loop for controlling said center wavelength, characterized in that said transmitter also includesa memory in which are stored a non-zero value of a first derivative of the output power of said laser with respect to tuning current where a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) is a maximum for each of said multiplicity of different channel wavelengths, anda controller for generating said first derivative and for comparing said generated and stored values, and, in response to said comparison, for delivering to said laser a level of tuning current that maximizes the SMSR for a particular channel wavelength.