Patent ID: 6586724
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A dispersion discriminator for determining the amount of dispersion in an amplitude modulated optical signal, the dispersion discriminator comprising:a splitter for dividing the optical signal into at least first and second portions; a first dispersion leg for causing a first additional amount of dispersion in the first portion; a second dispersion leg for causing a second additional amount of dispersion in the second portion that is opposite in polarity and substantially equal in magnitude to the first additional amount such that the amount of dispersion in the second portion is detectably different from the amount of dispersion in the first portion; and a dispersion detector for receiving the first and second portions from the respective dispersion legs, determining the amount of dispersion in the optical signal by detecting a difference between the amount of dispersion in the received first and second portions, and providing an indication of said amount of dispersion in the optical signal.