Patent ID: 7209665

Claim:
An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide, comprising: at least one first polarization mode dispersion compensation device, wherein the light wave is first supplied to the first compensation device which, in turn, at least partially carries out polarization mode dispersion compensation on the supplied light wave; at least one second polarization mode dispersion compensation device, wherein a light wave which is emitted from the first compensation device is supplied to the second compensation device which, in turn, carries out further polarization mode dispersion compensation on the light wave; a control device for controlling at least the first polarization mode dispersion compensation device; a first polarization mode dispersion detection device for providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device before supplying the light wave to a second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device, wherein a second polarization mode dispersion detection device provides information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device, and wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device; and a third polarization mode dispersion detection device for providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of a light wave that is emitted from the second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the second compensation device.