JP2005294854A - Optical amplifier and optical fiber communication system provided with same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical amplifier with the less wavelength dependency of the gain, free from a variation of input power or the number of channels in a WDM. <P>SOLUTION: In an optical amplifier which amplifies and outputs wavelength-division-multiplexing signal light, this optical amplifier comprises an optical amplification medium applied with wavelength-division-multiplexing signal light, a means for carrying out the pumping of the optical amplification medium, and a monitor means for detecting the spectrum of amplified wavelength-division-multiplexing signal light which is output from the optical amplification medium. Further, the amplifier has a parameter control means for controlling parameters on which the gain properties expressing the relationship between the gain and wavelength of an optical amplification medium depend, and for making the gain properties in a band including each wavelength of wavelength-division-multiplexing signal light flat, on the basis of the detected spectrum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical amplifier suitable for collective amplification of a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed signal lights, and further relates to the application of this optical amplifier to an optical communication system.

  In order to construct a future multimedia network, an optical communication system with a larger capacity is required. As an optical communication system for realizing ultra-high capacity, a time-division multiplexing (TDM) system, an optical time-division multiplexing (OTDM) system, a wavelength-division multiplexing (Wavelength-Division) Research on Multiplexing (WDM) system and the like has been actively conducted. Among these, the WDM system is intended to realize a flexible lightwave network that utilizes the wide gain bandwidth of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) to perform cross-connect, branch / insertion in the optical domain, or multiplexing of different services. Expected.

  The WDM system is considered to be advantageous compared to other systems when performing ultra-high-capacity transmission using the existing 1.3 μm-band zero-dispersion single-mode fiber network that is currently most popular in the world. Yes. This is because the transmission rate per optical carrier is low and the allowable value of optical input power limited by the chromatic dispersion allowable value and the nonlinear effect of the optical fiber can be set relatively large.

  In order to realize a WDM system, an optical amplifier having a constant amplification gain over a wide band is required. The EDFA has an amplification band (gain band) over about 1530 nm to 1560 nm, but the gain is not necessarily constant with respect to the wavelength. That is, the gain of the EDFA changes depending on the wavelength of the signal light.

As a technique for reducing the wavelength dependence of the gain of EDFA, use of a doped fiber in which Al is added together with Er has been proposed (CG Atkins et al., Electron).
Lett., Vol. 25, pp910-911 (1989)). In addition, a method for optimizing the operating point of the EDFA (M. Suyama et al., OAA '93, MB5-1 (1993)) and a method for flattening the gain characteristics using an optical filter (H. Toba et al. al., IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., Vol. 5, No. 2, pp248 (1993)).

  However, each of the above-described conventional techniques for reducing the wavelength dependency of the gain has a wavelength dependency of the gain when the input power of the signal light or the number of WDM channels changes due to the existence of problems inherent to each of the above-described conventional techniques. Has a disadvantage that it may become large.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical amplifier having a small wavelength dependency of gain regardless of changes in input power or the number of WDM channels.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication system to which this optical amplifier is applied.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, an optical amplifier that amplifies and outputs wavelength division multiplexed signal light, the optical amplification medium supplied with the wavelength division multiplexed signal light, means for pumping the optical amplification medium, and Monitor means for detecting the spectrum of the amplified wavelength division multiplexed signal light output from the optical amplifying medium, and gain characteristics representing the relationship between the gain and the wavelength of the optical amplifying medium depend on the detected spectrum. There is provided an optical amplifier comprising parameter control means for controlling a parameter so that the gain characteristic in a band including each wavelength of the wavelength division multiplexed signal light becomes flat.

  The optical communication system of the present invention includes a first terminal that outputs wavelength division multiplexed signal light, an optical repeater that amplifies and outputs the wavelength division multiplexed signal light, and an amplified output that is output from the optical repeater. And a second terminal that receives the wavelength division multiplexed signal light.

  The first terminal station includes means for modulating at least two channels of wavelength division multiplexed signal light with pilot signals having different frequencies.

  The optical repeater includes an optical amplifier according to an aspect of the present invention. The monitoring means includes means for detecting a component corresponding to each pilot signal, and the parameter control means includes means for controlling the detected amplitude of each component to be substantially constant.

  In the optical amplifier of the present invention, the spectrum of the amplified wavelength-division multiplexed signal light is detected, and control based on the detected spectrum is performed. Therefore, the gain wavelength is not affected by changes in the input power or the number of WDM channels. The dependency can be substantially eliminated.

  In the optical communication system of the present invention, since at least two channels of wavelength division multiplexed signal light are modulated by pilot signals of different frequencies, by detecting components corresponding to each pilot signal in an optical repeater, An outline of the spectrum of the amplified wavelength division multiplexed signal light can be monitored.

  Each pilot signal can also be used as a low frequency superimposed signal used for wavelength stabilization of the wavelength division multiplexed signal light in the first terminal station.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an optical amplifier to which the present invention can be applied. This optical amplifier has an amplification band for the input signal light to the input port 1, and outputs the amplified signal light from the output port 2.

  Input signal light is supplied to the optical amplifying medium 3. The optical amplifying medium 3 is generally a doped fiber doped with a rare earth element such as Er (erbium).

  Pump light from the pump light source 4 is introduced into the optical amplifying medium 3 through the optical coupling means 5. As a result, the optical amplifying medium 3 enters a pumping state, and an amplifying action is generated for signal light whose wavelength is included in a specific band. When the erbium-doped fiber is pumped with pump light having a wavelength of 0.98 μm, signal light in the 1.55 μm band is amplified.

  When the signal light and the pump light are propagated in the same direction in the optical amplifying medium 3, the optical coupling means 5 includes, for example, a WDM coupler provided between the input port 1 and the optical amplifying medium 3, and the signal light and the pump light When light is propagated in opposite directions within the optical amplification medium, the optical coupling means 5 includes, for example, a WDM coupler provided between the optical amplification medium 3 and the output port 2.

  Hereinafter, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) will be taken as an example and its characteristics will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a typical ASE (Amplified Spontaneous Emisson) spectrum in the EDFA. The vertical axis represents power (dBm), and the horizontal axis represents wavelength (μm).

  It is known that the ASE spectrum substantially reflects the gain characteristic of an optical amplifier with respect to a small signal. Here, the gain characteristic represents the relationship between the gain in the optical amplification medium and the wavelength of the input signal light.

  As understood from FIG. 2, there is a gain peak in the vicinity of 1.535 μm, and the gain characteristic is not flat.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the gain of the optical amplifier and the optical output power. The non-saturated region indicated by NSR has a large ratio of Er ions in an inversion distribution state in the EDFA, and corresponds to a state in which a constant gain is obtained regardless of a change in output light power.

  The saturation region indicated by SR indicates a state where the gain decreases rapidly as the ratio of Er ions in the inversion distribution state decreases and the optical output power increases.

  Whether it is in the non-saturated region or the saturated region is determined by the power of the pump light, for example. When the pump light power is sufficient with respect to the input power, the ratio of Er ions in the inversion distribution state becomes large and becomes a non-saturated region, while the pump light power is small with respect to the input power. In this case, the ratio of Er ions in the inversion distribution state decreases, and becomes a saturated region.

  An example of measuring the ASE band when a plurality of optical amplifiers operating in the non-saturation region and the saturation region are connected in series will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ASE 3 dB bandwidth (nm) and the number of stages of optical amplifiers. The gain characteristic becomes flat as the 3 dB bandwidth is large.

  When the number of stages of optical amplifiers increases, the decrease in 3 dB bandwidth is small when operating in the non-saturated region, but the 3 dB bandwidth decreases rapidly when operating in the saturated region. I understand. This is because WDM is applied to a multi-stage relay system including a first terminal station including an optical transmitter, a second terminal station including an optical receiver, and a plurality of optical amplifiers (optical repeaters) provided therebetween. It is shown that a fatal effect such as a decrease in reception sensitivity due to the gain characteristic being not flat appears when the is applied.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining changes in gain characteristics using the inversion distribution state as a parameter. The vertical axis represents local gain (dB / m), and the horizontal axis represents wavelength (nm).

  The parameter N2 / Nt representing the inversion distribution state indicates the ratio of the Er ions in the inversion distribution state to the total Er ions. When N2 / Nt = 1, all of the ions of Er are shifted to the upper level, and a complete inversion distribution is obtained.

  It is clear that the gain characteristic changes continuously as N2 / Nt changes.

  In a typical EDFA, the power of pump light is controlled so that the optical output power is constant. In addition, the power of the signal light input to the EDFA changes depending on the use conditions of the system and deterioration with time. If the control is performed so that the optical output power becomes constant as described above following this change, the inversion distribution state changes, and the gain characteristic, that is, the wavelength dependence of gain greatly changes. is there. This is because, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the gain characteristic greatly depends on the power of the pump light.

  Therefore, the conventional technique for flattening the gain characteristic using the optical filter requires control for changing the characteristic of the optical filter in accordance with the input optical power, and the system becomes extremely complicated.

  In FIG. 5, it can be seen that a flat gain characteristic is obtained for the band of 1540 to 1560 nm in the vicinity of N2 / Nt = 0.7. Therefore, if the operating state of the EDFA can always be maintained in this inverted distribution state, the wavelength dependence of gain can be eliminated.

  For example, a technique for keeping the gain of an optical amplifier constant by optimally controlling the power of pump light is shown in IEICE Technical Report, OCS94-66, pp31-36.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional technique for keeping the gain constant. Signal light from the input port 11 is supplied to the WDM coupler 13 via the optical isolator 12. The pump light from the pump LD 14 is added to the signal light in the WDM coupler 13, and the signal light and the pump light are input to an EDF (erbium doped fiber) 15.

  The signal light amplified in the EDF 15 passes through the optical isolator 16, the optical attenuator 17, and the optical coupler 18 in this order, and is output from the output port 19.

  The drive current of the pump LD 14 is controlled by an automatic fiber gain controller (AFGC) 20. The gain controller 20 controls the power of the pump light based on the power of the ASE output from the EDF 15 and the like so that the gain in the EDF 15 becomes constant.

  Part of the amplified signal light is branched by the optical coupler 18, and the branched light is converted into an electric signal by the photodetector 21. The automatic power controller (APC) 22 controls the attenuation rate of the optical attenuator so that the level of the output signal of the photodetector 21 is constant.

  A point to be noted in the optical amplifier shown in FIG. 6 is that the power of the pump light is controlled in order to keep the gain in the EDF 15 constant. Thus, in order to perform automatic power control (APC) to keep the output power of the optical amplifier constant, the signal light amplified by the EDF 15 is attenuated by the optical attenuator 17 whose attenuation factor is controlled.

  Therefore, this prior art has drawbacks such as a decrease in the maximum optical output power due to the use of an optical attenuator and an increase in cost due to the use of a variable attenuation factor type optical attenuator.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the optical amplifier according to the first aspect of the present invention. This optical amplifier includes an input port 1 and an output port 2 and an optical amplifying medium 3 provided in the main optical path between them, as in the configuration of FIG. 1, and the pump light from the pump light source 4 1 is introduced into the optical amplifying medium 3 by the optical coupling means 5.

  The basic configuration of FIG. 7 further includes a probe light source 31 that outputs probe light, second optical coupling means 32 that introduces the probe light into the optical amplification medium 3, and first power that detects the power of the input signal light. A detection means 33, a second power detection means 34 for detecting the power of the probe light, and a control means 35 for controlling the power of the probe light based on the outputs of the power detection means 33 and 34 are provided.

  The wavelength of the probe light output from the probe light source 31 is included in the amplification band of the optical amplification medium, and this wavelength is preferably different from the wavelength of the signal light. As a result of the control by the control means 35, the amplification gain of the optical amplifying medium with respect to the input signal light is kept constant.

  Desirably, this basic configuration controls the power of the pump light so that the output of the power detecting means 36 is constant, and the third power detecting means 36 for detecting the power of the signal light amplified by the optical amplifying medium. And means 37.

  Preferably, the control means 35 performs calculation based on the outputs of the power detection means 33 and 34 and outputs the calculation result, and the probe light source 31 so that the output of the calculation means 38 is constant. Means 39 for controlling.

  The calculation means 38 is, for example, a value aS1 obtained by multiplying the output S1 of the first power detection means 33 by the first constant a, and a value obtained by multiplying the output S2 of the second power detection means 34 by the second constant b. In addition to bS2, a signal having a level corresponding to the value is output. Then, the means 39 controls the probe light source 31 so that the level becomes constant.

  Means 36 and 37 are for performing APC to keep the output power of the optical amplifier constant. Here, since the power of the pump light is controlled by APC, the ratio N2 / Nt of the inversion distribution changes accordingly. As a result, as is clear from FIG. 5, the power of the pump light controlled for APC changes the wavelength dependence of the gain.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the power of the probe light is controlled in order to keep the wavelength dependence of gain constant. That is, the wavelength dependence of the gain is made constant by changing N2 / Nt by the power of the probe light independently of the change of N2 / Nt due to the power control of the pump light for APC. .

  Specifically, the conditions are set as follows, for example. When the power of the input signal light is approximately halfway between the maximum value and the minimum value of the change (including the change due to the change in the number of channels when WDM is applied), the probe light power is in the middle of the controllable range. Try to be about. Under this setting, the parameters of the optical amplifying medium 3 and the power of the pump light are set so that the output power of the optical amplifier becomes a predetermined value and the gain characteristic becomes flat. The parameters of the optical amplifying medium 3 are, for example, the length of EDF and the concentration of doped Er ions.

  It should be noted that the maximum output of the pump light source 4 is preferably left so that the above-described light output with the predetermined power can be obtained even when the power of the input signal light becomes the minimum value. .

  By such setting, it is possible to perform control such that N2 / Nt is constant at 0.7 in FIG. When N2 / Nt is kept constant at approximately 0.7, a constant gain characteristic can be obtained for signal light whose wavelength is included in the flat gain region indicated by FGR. In the example of FIG. 5, the flat gain region FGR is in the range of 1540 to 1560 nm.

  When the power of the input signal light is decreased, the number of Er ions in the inversion distribution state is increased and the value of N2 / Nt is increased, so that the gain on the short wavelength side is increased with respect to the gain on the long wavelength side. Becomes relatively large (see FIG. 5). Therefore, by increasing the probe light power as the input signal power decreases, the value of N2 / Nt returns to 0.7, thereby maintaining a flat gain characteristic.

  On the other hand, when the power of the input signal light is increased, the number of Er ions in the inversion distribution state is decreased and the value of N2 / Nt is decreased (see FIG. 5). The gain is relatively large compared to the gain on the short wavelength side. Therefore, the value of N2 / Nt is maintained at 0.7 by decreasing the power of the probe light as the power of the input signal light increases.

  By performing control so that the powers of the signal light and the probe light supplied to the optical amplification medium 3 become substantially constant, N2 / Nt can be kept substantially constant. The above-described calculation examples in the calculation means 38 are appropriate for realizing such control while compensating for loss or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the optical amplifier of FIG. An optical isolator 41, an optical coupler 42, a WDM coupler 43, an optical coupler 44, an EDF 45, an optical isolator 46, an optical bandpass filter 47, and an optical coupler 48 are optically connected in this order between the input port 1 and the output port 2. Thus, the main optical path of the signal light is formed.

  The optical coupler 42 is for branching a part of the input signal light from the main optical path, and this branched light is converted into an electrical signal by a photodetector (photodiode) 49 and supplied to the control circuit 51 via the amplifier 50. .

  Pump light from the laser diode 53 driven by the pump drive circuit 52 is introduced into the main optical path by the WDM coupler 43, and this pump light is supplied to the first end of the EDF 45 through the optical coupler 44. The first end of the EDF 45 is on the upstream side of the main optical path, and the second end is on the downstream side.

  Probe light from the laser diode 55 driven by the probe drive circuit 54 is introduced into the main optical path by the optical coupler 44 and supplied to the first end of the EDF 45.

  The laser diode 55 outputs forward light and backward light whose power changes to be equal or proportional to each other. In this example, the forward light is used as probe light. The backward light is converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector 56, and the electrical signal is amplified by the amplifier 57 and supplied to the control circuit 51.

  The optical bandpass filter 47 allows the signal light amplified by the EDF 45 to pass therethrough and substantially blocks the amplified probe light. The optical bandpass filter 47 further blocks pump light that has not been consumed in the optical amplification process in the EDF 45.

  Part of the light that has passed through the optical bandpass filter 47 is branched by the optical coupler 48 and converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector 58. This electric signal is amplified by the amplifier 59 and supplied to the APC circuit 60.

  The current supplied from the probe drive circuit 54 to the laser diode 55 is controlled by the control circuit 51, and the current supplied from the pump drive circuit 52 to the laser diode 53 is controlled by the APC circuit 60.

  In the drawings, substantially the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The correspondence of each part of FIG.7 and FIG.8 is as follows.

  The first power detection means 33 corresponds to the optical coupler 42, the photodetector 49 and the amplifier 50, the second power detection means 34 corresponds to the photodetector 56 and the amplifier 57, the control means 35 corresponds to the control circuit 51, and the probe The light source 31 corresponds to the probe drive circuit 54 and the laser diode 55, the second optical coupling means 32 corresponds to the optical coupler 44, the optical amplification medium 3 corresponds to the EDF 45, and the first optical coupling means 5 corresponds to the WDM coupler. 43, the pump light source 4 corresponds to the pump drive circuit 52 and the laser diode 53, the third power detection means 36 corresponds to the optical bandpass filter 47, the optical coupler 48, the photodetector 58 and the amplifier 59, and means 37 Corresponds to the APC circuit 60.

  In the case where the calculation means 38 shown in FIG. 7 performs the calculation already exemplified, in order to keep N2 / Nt accurately constant, the power of the amplified signal light and the probe light and the output from the optical amplification medium are used. It is required to detect the power of the ASE component and perform control so that the sum of these is constant. At this time, the total input power to the optical amplifying medium is kept constant by controlling the probe light, and the total optical output of the optical amplifier is also kept constant, so that this optical amplifier eventually maintains a constant gain. N2 / Nt is kept constant.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the third power detection means 36 (see FIG. 7) includes an optical bandpass filter 47, and the optical bandpass filter 47 removes the amplified probe light. The pump light is controlled so that the amplified signal light that has passed through the optical bandpass filter 47 and the power of the ASE component generated in the band near the wavelength are kept constant. As a result, when the dynamic range of the power of the input signal light is large, it may be difficult to always keep N2 / Nt constant. An embodiment for dealing with this problem will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the optical amplifier of FIG. This optical amplifier is characterized in that a correction circuit 71 is additionally provided in contrast to the first embodiment of FIG. The correction circuit 71 receives the output signal of the amplifier 50, that is, the output signal of the first power detection means 33 (see FIG. 7), and corrects the current that the probe drive circuit 54 supplies to the laser diode 55. Thereby, the power of the probe light supplied to the EDF 45 is corrected, and the band where the amplification gain does not change depending on the wavelength can be substantially expanded.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the optical amplifier of FIG. The characteristic points when this optical amplifier is compared with the first embodiment of FIG. 8 are as follows.

  First, the pump light source 4 (see FIG. 7) includes a laser diode 82 driven by a pump drive circuit 81 in addition to the laser diode 53. Accordingly, the pump light from the laser diode 82 is transmitted to the EDF 45. The WDM coupler 83 is provided for introduction from the second end. The WDM coupler 83 is provided between the EDF 45 and the optical isolator 46. In this example, the WDM couplers 43 and 83 correspond to the first optical coupling means 5 in FIG.

  The second feature point of this embodiment is that the control means 35 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 84 for calculating the optimum power of the probe light in accordance with a predetermined program. Since the input and output signals of the pump drive circuits 52 and 81 and the probe drive circuit 54 and the output signals of the amplifiers 50 and 59 are analog signals, the control means 35 is adapted to adapt this to the digital signal processing in the CPU 84. It further includes a converter 85 for performing analog / digital conversion and digital / analog conversion.

  The CPU 84 is connected to a memory circuit 86 including a ROM for permanently storing a program and a RAM for temporarily storing calculation results and the like.

  Note that the CPU 84 not only calculates the optimum power of the probe light but also serves to control the power of the pump light for APC.

  By omitting the WDM coupler 43, the pump drive circuit 52, and the laser diode 53, the pump light may be supplied to the EDF 45 only from the second end thereof.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the optical amplifier of FIG. The first optical coupling means 5 (see FIG. 7) is the same as the third embodiment of FIG. 10 in that it includes WDM couplers 43 and 83.

  The optical amplifier of FIG. 11 is different from the third embodiment of FIG. 10 in that the second optical coupling means 32 (see FIG. 7) includes an optical coupler 44 'operatively connected to the EDF 45. Characterized. In the present specification, the optical components are operatively connected to each other including a case where they are directly connected by a fiber connection or a spatial connection using a collimated beam, and further through other optical components such as an optical filter. Including when connected.

  The optical coupler 44 ′ is provided between the WDM coupler 83 and the optical isolator 46. The probe light from the laser diode 55 passes through the optical coupler 44 ′ and the WDM coupler 83 in this order, and is supplied from the second end to the EDF 45. The power control of the probe light is the same as in the previous embodiments.

  In this embodiment, since the optical coupler 44 'is provided on the downstream side of the EDF 45 in the main optical path, the probe light propagates in the opposite direction to the signal light in the main optical path, so that the probe for the output port 2 or the photo detector 58 is obtained. It is easy to block light. Specifically, when the wavelength of the probe light and the wavelength of the signal light are extremely close, the design accuracy of the passband of the optical bandpass filter 47 is relaxed.

  Further, since the optical coupler 44 (see FIG. 10) is unnecessary on the upstream side of the EDF 45 in the main optical path, the loss of input signal light supplied to the EDF 45 is reduced, and a good noise figure can be obtained.

  However, since the propagation direction of the signal light in the EDF 45 and the propagation direction of the probe light are reversed, the state of the spatial inversion distribution in the EDF 45 is different from the power distribution of the signal light originally desired to be amplified, and the calculation illustrated above is wide. It may be difficult to flatten the gain characteristic across the band.

  When such a difficulty is expected, it can be dealt with by finely correcting the power of the probe light according to the power of the input signal light. For example, in the optical amplifier of FIG. A data table of the optimum probe light power may be created in the memory circuit 86, and the probe light may be controlled based on this table.

  The optical amplifier according to the first aspect of the present invention described so far is suitable for transmission of WDM signal light comprising a plurality of wavelength division multiplexed signal lights. However, this optical amplifier is limited to application to a WDM system. Not. Even when a single wavelength of signal light is amplified, the flat gain characteristic can eliminate the deterioration of the transmission characteristic due to wavelength fluctuation.

  Next, an optical amplifier suitable for being limitedly applied to a WDM system will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining the basic configuration of an optical amplifier according to the second aspect of the present invention. This optical amplifier amplifies the WDM signal light supplied to the input port 1 and outputs it from the output port 2.

  In order to amplify the WDM signal light, an optical amplification medium 3 and a means 101 for pumping the optical amplification medium 3 are provided.

  This optical amplifier further controls the monitor means 102 for detecting the spectrum of the amplified WDM signal light output from the optical amplification medium 3, and controls the parameter on which the gain characteristic of the optical amplification medium 3 depends on the detected spectrum. Parameter control means 103 for making the gain characteristic in a band including the wavelength of the WDM signal light flat.

  The pumping unit 101 includes, for example, a pump light source 4 that outputs pump light and an optical coupling unit 5 that introduces the pump light into the optical amplification medium 3. In this case, the power of pump light can be adopted as a parameter controlled by the parameter control means 103.

  When the parameter to be controlled is the power of the pump light, the optical amplifier preferably further includes a variable optical attenuator 104 to which the amplified WDM signal light output from the optical amplification medium 3 is supplied, and a variable optical attenuation. Power detecting means 105 for detecting the power of light output from the optical device, and means 106 for controlling the attenuation factor of the variable optical attenuator 104 so that the detected power becomes constant.

  In the optical amplifier shown in FIG. 12, the variable optical attenuator 104 is used to perform APC because the control target of the parameter control means 103 is the power of the pump light, but the second aspect of the present invention The basic configuration of the optical amplifier is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the probe light source may be used as in the optical amplifier according to the first aspect of the present invention, and the power of the probe light may be controlled by the parameter control means 103. In this case, APC can be performed using the power of pump light.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an optical amplifier showing a first embodiment of the basic configuration of FIG. This optical amplifier includes the hardware in the embodiment of FIG. 11, and the programs in the CPU 84 and the storage device 86 are changed according to the second aspect of the present invention. The optical amplifier further includes an optical coupler 110 provided between the optical coupler 48 and the output port 2 in the main optical path, and a monitor unit 102.

  The optical coupler 110 splits the WDM signal light amplified by the EDF 45 into two branches. The first branched light is output from the output port 2, and the second branched light is supplied to the monitor unit 102.

  The control target of the parameter control means 103 (see FIG. 12) is the power of the probe light output from the laser diode 55, and the pump light output from the laser diodes 53 and 55 is used for APC. The parameter control means 103 is understood to be included in the CPU 84.

  The monitor unit 102 includes a grating 111, a lens 112 for converting the beam parameter of the second branched light from the optical coupler 110 and irradiating the entire surface of the grating 111, and a photosensor array 113 having a plurality of light receiving elements. And a lens 114 for converging the diffracted light from the grating 111 on the light receiving surface of the photosensor array 113.

  Since the diffraction angle in the grating 111 varies depending on the wavelength, the spectrum of the WDM signal light can be detected by using the power distribution obtained by the photosensor array 113 based on the difference in the diffraction angle. The optical power distribution in the photosensor array 113 is read by the read circuit 115, and the output signal of the read circuit 115 is converted into a form that can be easily handled by the signal processing circuit 116, and then supplied to the CPU 84 via the converter 85 or directly. Is done.

  For example, the signal processing circuit 116 calculates the value of the spectrum peak corresponding to each channel of the WDM signal light. In this case, for example, the CPU 84 controls the power of the probe light so that the heights of the peaks are substantially equal.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an optical amplifier showing a second embodiment of the basic configuration of FIG. This optical amplifier is applicable to the optical communication system of the present invention. This optical amplifier is characterized in that the configuration and operation of the monitor means 102 and the parameter control means 103 (see FIG. 12) are different from the embodiment of FIG. Details thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the optical communication system of the present invention. This system is configured by laying an optical transmission path 123 made of an optical fiber or the like between a first terminal station 121 and a second terminal station 122, and inserting a plurality of optical repeaters 124 in the middle. Yes. Each optical repeater 124 includes an optical amplifier according to the second aspect of the present invention (eg, the optical amplifier of FIG. 14).

  The first terminal station 121 outputs WDM signal light. Each optical repeater receives and amplifies the WDM signal light. The WDM signal light relayed by each optical repeater 124 is received by the second terminal station 122.

  The first terminal station 121 includes means for modulating at least two channels of WDM signal light with pilot signals having different frequencies.

  In each optical amplifier 125, the monitoring means 102 (see FIG. 12) includes means for detecting each pilot signal, and the parameter control means 103 (see FIG. 12) is configured so that the amplitudes of the detected components are substantially equal. Including means for controlling.

  16 and 17 are block diagrams showing embodiments of the first terminal station 121 and the second terminal station 122, respectively.

  In the first terminal station 121, laser diodes 131 (# 1, 2,..., N) serving as transmission light sources are respectively driven by drive circuits 132 (# 1, 2,..., N). Laser diodes 131 (# 1, 2,..., N) output signal lights having wavelengths λ1, λ2,..., Λn, respectively, and these signal lights are respectively external modulators 133 (# 1, 2) suitable for speeding up. ,..., N) are subjected to modulation based on the transmission data and then merged by the optical multiplexer 134.

  The optical multiplexer 134 has two output ports 134A and 134B, and most of the combined signal light (WDM signal light) passes from the output port 134A via the output port 140 of this terminal station to the optical transmission line 123 (FIG. 15). (See below). The modulation by the transmission data in the external modulator 133 (# 1, 2,..., N) is intensity modulation in this example.

  The oscillator 135 (# 1, 2,..., N) generates pilot signals (tone signals) of frequencies f1, f2,. Each pilot signal is supplied to a drive circuit 132 (# 1, 2,..., N), whereby the laser diode 131 (# 1, 2,..., N) is frequency-modulated at frequencies f1, f2,. Is done.

  Each pilot signal is also supplied to a control circuit 136 having a synchronous detection circuit.

  A part of the WDM signal light output from the output port 134B of the optical multiplexer is supplied to the photodetector 138 through a frequency separator 137 including a Fabry-Perot interferometer. As the WDM signal light passes through the frequency separator 137, the components of the pilot signals appear at the output of the photodetector 138, and these components are amplified by the amplifier 139 and then supplied to the control circuit 136.

  The control circuit 136 controls the drive current supplied from the drive circuit 132 (# 1, 2,..., N) to the laser diode 131 (# 1, 2,..., N) according to the general principle of synchronous detection. The wavelength of the signal light output from the laser diode 131 (# 1, 2,..., N) is stabilized.

  The frequency of the pilot signal is set to be different from each other, for example, from 1 KHz to 10 KHz so as not to affect the main signal due to the transmission data and to facilitate the detection of the pilot signal.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the second terminal station 122 has an input port 141 for receiving WDM signal light. The received WDM signal light is branched into the number of channels by the optical demultiplexer 142 and supplied to the optical bandpass filters 143 (# 1, 2,..., N), respectively. The optical bandpass filters 143 (# 1, 2,..., N) selectively transmit signal lights having wavelengths λ1, λ2,.

  Each signal light is amplified by an optical amplifier 144 (# 1, 2,..., N), and then converted into an electrical signal by an optical / electrical converter 145 (# 1, 2,..., N) including a photodetector. Based on these electric signals, transmission data of each channel is reproduced.

  An example of an optical amplifier applicable to the optical repeater 124 of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to FIG. A part of the amplified WDM signal light branched by the optical coupler 110 is supplied to the monitor means 102 for detecting the spectrum. The supplied WDM signal light is supplied to the photodetector 152 through a frequency discriminator 151 including a Fabry-Perot interferometer. As the WDM signal light passes through the frequency discriminator 151, each component of the pilot signal appears at the output of the photodetector 152. Each component is amplified by an amplifier 153 and then supplied to a bandpass filter 154 (# 1, 2,..., N).

  The band pass filters 154 (# 1, 2,..., N) selectively pass signal components of frequencies f1, f2,. Since each signal component that has passed includes a modulation component based on relatively high-speed transmission data and a component based on a relatively low-speed pilot signal, an envelope is detected in order to detect the amplitude of the component based on the pilot signal. A line detector 155 (# 1, 2,..., N) is provided.

  Output signals of the envelope detector 155 (# 1, 2,..., N) are supplied to the converter 85 via low-pass filters 156 (# 1, 2,..., N), respectively.

  The CPU 84 including the function of the parameter control means 103 (see FIG. 12) causes the probe light so that the amplitude of each component corresponding to the pilot signal detected by the monitor means 102 is substantially equal or has a predetermined relationship. To control the power. Thereby, the flat gain characteristic of the optical amplifier can be obtained.

  In particular, in the case where a plurality of optical repeaters 124 are provided as in the system shown in FIG. 15, the deterioration of transmission quality due to the non-flat gain characteristics becomes significant. The improvement is effective for such a system.

  In the configuration of the first terminal station 121 illustrated in FIG. 16, since the pilot signal is also used for wavelength stabilization of each signal light, the signal light of all channels is modulated by the pilot signal.

  However, if the purpose is only to flatten the gain characteristic in the optical amplifier, only two channels in the WDM signal light may be modulated with the pilot signal. These two channels are, for example, the shortest wavelength channel and the longest wavelength channel in the WDM signal light.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 16, each signal light is frequency-modulated with a pilot signal. However, when a pilot signal that is slower than the transmission data is used, the intensity of each signal light is modulated with the pilot signal. Also good.

  In general, when a transmission light source is a laser diode, frequency modulation of signal light can be easily performed by superimposing a pilot signal on the drive current, but at the same time, signal light is intensity-modulated. Focus on it.

  In this way, when the signal light is intensity-modulated by the pilot signal, the frequency discriminator 151 in the monitoring means 102 in FIG. 14 is not necessary.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the optical amplifier which can apply this invention. It is a figure which shows the spectrum of typical ASE. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a gain and optical output power. It is a figure which shows the relationship between ASE 3dB bandwidth and the number of optical amplifier stages. It is a figure which shows the change of the gain characteristic which used the ratio (N2 / Nt) of inversion distribution as a parameter. It is a block diagram which shows the prior art example which keeps a gain constant. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an optical amplifier according to a first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the optical amplifier in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the optical amplifier in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the optical amplifier in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the optical amplifier in FIG. 7. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the basic composition of the optical amplifier by the 2nd side surface of this invention. It is a block diagram of the optical amplifier which shows 1st Example of the basic composition of FIG. It is a block diagram of the optical amplifier which shows 2nd Example of the basic composition of FIG. It is a block diagram of the optical communication system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the Example of a 1st terminal station. It is a block diagram which shows the Example of a 2nd terminal station.

Explanation of symbols

3 Optical amplification medium 4 Pump light source 31 Probe light source 35 Control means 102 Monitor means 103 Parameter control means 121 First terminal station 122 Second terminal station 124 Optical repeater

Claims (7)

An optical amplifier that amplifies and outputs wavelength division multiplexed signal light,
An optical amplification medium to which the wavelength division multiplexed signal light is supplied;
Means for pumping the optical amplification medium;
Monitor means for detecting the spectrum of the amplified wavelength division multiplexed signal light output from the optical amplification medium;
Based on the detected spectrum, the gain characteristic representing the relationship between the gain and wavelength of the optical amplifying medium is controlled, and the gain characteristic in a band including each wavelength of the wavelength division multiplexed signal light is flat. And an optical amplifier comprising parameter control means for achieving The pumping means includes a pump light source that outputs pump light, and means for introducing the pump light into the optical amplification medium,
The optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a power of the pump light. A variable optical attenuator to which the amplified wavelength division multiplexed signal light output from the optical amplification medium is supplied;
Means for detecting the power of light output from the variable optical attenuator;
The optical amplifier according to claim 2, further comprising means for controlling an attenuation factor of the variable optical attenuator so that the detected power becomes constant. A probe light source that outputs probe light whose wavelength is included in the amplification band of the optical amplification medium;
Means for introducing the probe light into the optical amplification medium,
The optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a power of the probe light. A first terminal that outputs wavelength division multiplexed signal light;
An optical repeater that receives the wavelength division multiplexed signal light, amplifies it, and outputs it;
A second terminal that receives the amplified wavelength division multiplexed signal light output from the optical repeater,
The first terminal station includes means for modulating at least two channels of the wavelength division multiplexed signal light with pilot signals of different frequencies,
The optical repeater includes the optical amplifier according to claim 1,
The monitoring means includes means for detecting a component corresponding to each pilot signal,
The said parameter control means is an optical communication system containing the means to control so that the amplitude of each said detected component becomes substantially equal.   6. The optical communication system according to claim 5, wherein the first terminal station includes means for stabilizing the wavelength of each channel of the wavelength division multiplexed signal light based on each pilot signal.   6. The optical communication system according to claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of the optical repeaters, and these are connected in series.

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