Patent ID: 7324268
Filing Date: 2008-01-29
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of optical amplification media segments which are concatenated in series; wherein subsequent to each optical amplification media segment a respective one or more wavelengths in a respective wavelength range is dropped; at least one combining element that collectively combine all of the respective one or more wavelengths dropped subsequent to each amplification media segment to produce an amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; wherein each amplification media segment comprises a fiber amplification media segment; wherein each particular subsequent concatenated fiber amplification media segment adds an additional physical length of fiber amplification media to the apparatus wherein each particular additional physical length of fiber amplification media is configured such that an overall length of fiber amplification media, including the particular fiber amplification media segment and all preceding physical lengths of fiber amplification media, when supplied with pump laser energy, provide a respective gain response over the respective wavelength range containing the respective one or more wavelengths to be dropped after the particular segment.