Patent ID: 6724524
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
A Raman fiber amplifier comprising(i) a transmission fiber; (ii) at least one pump power detector; (iii) at least one pump optically coupled to said transmission fiber and to said pump power detector; (iv) at least one signal detector, optically coupled to said transmission fiber so as to detect signal power propagating through said transmission fiber; (v) a controller (a) operatively connected to said pump power detector and said signal detector, and (b) utilizing signals provided by said at least one pump power detector and said signal detector, said controller adjusting the pump power provided by said at least one pump, so as to adjust gain provided by said Raman fiber amplifier or to keep the signal power level detected by said signal detector within a predetermined range; (vi) further including at least one backscatter monitor measuring the amount of backscattered pump signal and providing input about the amount of measured backscatter to said controller, wherein said controller adjusts pump power of at least one pump when the amount of measured backscatter is outside a predetermined level.