Patent ID: 7239807

Claim:
A variable clamp equalization method for a plurality of wavelengths in a signal, comprising the steps of: (i) measuring optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) values for each wavelength; (ii) computing an OSNR range value of the measured OSNR values; (iii) computing an OSNR average value of the measured OSNR values; (iv) computing a raw power adjustment value for each wavelength by subtracting each wavelength's measured OSNR value from the computed OSNR average value; (v) computing a raw power adjustment correction factor for each computed raw power adjustment value based on the computed OSNR range value in accordance with a pre-defined variable clamp value schedule, wherein a larger clamp is scheduled for use when the computed OSNR range value is larger, and a smaller clamp is scheduled for use when the computed OSNR range value is smaller; (vi) determining a clamped power adjustment value for each wavelength by multiplying each computed raw power adjustment value by the computed raw power adjustment correction factor; (vii) applying the corresponding determined clamped power adjustment value to each wavelength; and (viii) iterating steps (i) through (vii) until the computed OSNR range value is within pre-defined boundaries, whereby the signal is considered equalized.