Patent ID: 7486892

Claim:
Apparatus for equalizing combined first and second optical output signals transmitted on an optical fiber, said combined first and second optical signals comprising first optical output signals within a first band of wavelengths of light and second optical output signals within a second band of wavelengths of light different than said first band, said apparatus comprising: first and second optical inputs; first optical input signals, provided by one of said first and second optical inputs, comprising optical signals within an unrestricted selection of said first band of wavelengths of light; second optical input signals, provided by the other one of said first and second optical inputs, comprising optical signals within said selected second band of wavelengths of light, said selected second band of wavelengths of light different than said first band of wavelengths, but otherwise unrestricted; a first optical tap having a first end connected to receive only said first optical input signals provided at said first optical input, and a second end; a first VOA (Variable Optical Attenuator) downstream of said first optical tap for receiving said first optical input signals within said first band of wavelengths of light provided at said first optical input subsequent to tapping said first optical signal and for attenuating the power level of said first optical input signals in response to a control signal to be substantially the same as the power level of said second optical input signals; a first optical combining device for combining said power adjusted first optical input signals and said second optical input signals; an optical amplifier for providing the only optical amplification in said apparatus to said first and second optical input signals and for providing amplified first and second optical output signals comprising at least said power adjusted first optical input signals; a monitor for sampling and determining the relative power levels of said first and second optical output signals; and a control circuit connected to said monitor for sampling and connected to said first optical input signals and for providing said control signal in response to said relative power levels of said first and second optical output signals.