Patent ID: 6236495
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of compensating for optical dispersion of a polarized optical signal passing through an optical communication system, comprising the steps of:coupling the optical signal from the communication system into a dispersion compensating device and passing the optical signal through the dispersion compensating device in a first pass;returning the optical signal and passing the optical signal back through the dispersion compensating device in a second pass;between the beginning of the first pass and the end of the second pass, rotating the polarization of the optical signal to a polarization direction that is blocked by a polarization-selective element from re-entry into the communication system;then returning the optical signal from the blocking polarization-selective element back through the dispersion compensating device in one or more further passes;between the beginning and the end of said one or more further passes, further rotating the polarization of the optical signal to a polarization direction that is admitted by a polarization-selective element for re-entry into the communication system; andafter said one or more further passes, coupling the optical signal back into the communication system via the admitting polarization-selective element.