Patent ID: 6282333
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of compensating for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission link having a link input and a link output and having polarization-dependent transmission characteristics, a birefringent compensation element being arranged upstream from the optical transmission link, the compensation element having an input, an output, a fast transmitting polarization state, a slow transmitting polarization state and a length, the method comprising:sending an optical transmission signal into the compensation element so that a signal polarization of the transmission signal coincides with one of the fast or slow polarization states;applying an interference capable of locally modifying birefringence of the compensation element to the compensation element at a distance from the input;the compensation element being coupled to the transmission link so that the fast and slow polarization states are changed into a first altered polarization state and a second altered polarization state by the transmission link.