Patent ID: 6163399
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
A transient suppression system for use with an optical amplifier connected to an input fiber carrying an input optical signal and to an output fiber carrying an output optical signal and having a control port, the output optical signal having a total optical power which is specifiable by a control gain fed to the control port, the system comprising:input power estimation means connectable to the input fiber, for estimating the power of the optical input signal in a frequency range having a lower limit greater than zero frequency, thereby to create an input power estimate;output power estimation means connectable to the output fiber, for estimating the power of the optical output signal in said frequency range, thereby to create an output power estimate; andprocessing means connected to the input and output power estimation means and to the control port of the optical amplifier, for calculating the control gain as a function of the output and input power estimates;wherein the processing means comprises:an analog divider circuit connected to the input and output power estimation means, for calculating a ratio of the output power estimate to the input power estimate;a comparator connected to the divider circuit for calculating the difference between said ratio and a reference gain, thereby to produce a correction gain; anda summation circuit connected to the comparator and to the control port of the optical amplifier, for adding said correction gain to a nominal gain, thereby to produce said control gain.