IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0190227
(2002-07-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- LightPointe Communications, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
107 |
초록
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Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response
Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (ERDAs) optically couple optical signals between free-space and fiber optic links of a terrestrial optical communication network. The optical gain of transmitting and receiving ERDAs is controlled to achieve good optical signal communication. Control occurs in response to signals received at the transmitting and receiving ends of the links. Control, status and management information may be communicated optically between link head stations. The physical position of transceivers at opposite ends of the link optical signal paths is also controlled.
대표청구항
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1. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; and
1. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; and optically coupling the optical signal from the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optically coupling step comprises the step of:optically coupling the optical signal from the fiber amplifier into the fiber optic link with an optical routing switch. 3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the optical routing switch is configured to route optical signals between a plurality of free-space links.4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical signal includes multiple wavelengths.6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein one of the multiple wavelengths carries network management information.7. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive an optical signal from a free-space link; a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element and that is configured to amplify the optical signal; and an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the optical signal from the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the optical apparatus comprises an optical routing switch.9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the optical routing switch is configured to route optical signals between a plurality of free-space links.10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.11. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:optically coupling a first optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into a fiber amplifier; amplifying the first optical signal with the fiber amplifier; and directing the first optical signal through a free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the fiber amplifier. 12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the optically coupling step comprises the step of:optically coupling the first optical signal from the fiber optic link of the terrestrial optical communication network into the fiber amplifier with an optical routing switch. 13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the optical routing switch is configured to select a transceiver having the fiber amplifier from a plurality of transceivers.14. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.15. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first optical signal includes multiple wavelengths.16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein one of the multiple wavelengths carries network management information.17. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a fiber amplifier; an optical apparatus configured to optically couple a first optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into the fiber amplifier; and a beam focusing element optically coupled to the fiber amplifier and configured to direct the first optical signal through a free-space link. 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the optical apparatus comprises an optical routing switch.19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein the optical routing switch is configured to select a transceiver having the fiber amplifier from a plurality of transceivers.20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.21. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving a first optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the first optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a first fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; optically coupling the first optical signal from the first fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network; optically coupling a second optical signal from the fiber optic link of the terrestrial optical communication network into a second fiber amplifier; and directing the second optical signal through the free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the second fiber amplifier. 22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the steps of optically coupling the first optical signal and optically coupling a second optical signal are performed with an optical routing switch.23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the optical routing switch is configured to select a transceiver having the second fiber amplifier from a plurality of transceivers.24. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.25. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the first and second optical signals each include multiple wavelengths with one of the multiple wavelengths carrying network management information.26. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive a first optical signal from a free-space link; a first fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element and that is configured to amplify the first optical signal; a second fiber amplifier; an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the first optical signal from the first fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network and to optically couple a second optical signal from the fiber optic link of the terrestrial optical communication network into the second fiber amplifier; and a beam focusing element optically coupled to the second fiber amplifier and configured to direct the second optical signal through the free-space link. 27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the optical apparatus comprises an optical routing switch.28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein the optical routing switch is configured to select a transceiver having the second fiber amplifier from a plurality of transceivers.29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.30. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network with an optical routing switch; routing the optical signal to a selected one of a plurality of free-space optical transceivers that are optically coupled to the optical routing switch; amplifying the optical signal with a fiber amplifier included in the selected one of the plurality of free-space optical transceivers; and directing the optical signal through a free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the fiber amplifier. 31. A method in accordance with claim 30, further comprising the step of:selecting the selected one of a plurality of free-space optical transceivers based on information included in the optical signal. 32. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.33. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the optical signal; and optically coupling the optical signal from the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 34. A method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is doped with erbium.35. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the optical signal; and optically coupling the optical signal from the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network; wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system. 36. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving an optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; and supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the optical signal; wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is co-doped with two elements. 37. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive an optical signal from a free-space link; a fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core that is optically coupled to the receive element; wherein the doped single mode core of the optical fiber of the fiber amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element; and an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the optical signal from the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 38. An apparatus in accordance with claim 37, wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is doped with erbium.39. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive an optical signal from a free-space link; a fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core that is optically coupled to the receive element; wherein the doped single mode core of the optical fiber of the fiber amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element; and an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the optical signal from the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network; wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system. 40. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive an optical signal from a free-space link; and a fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core that is optically coupled to the receive element; wherein the doped single mode core of the optical fiber of the fiber amplifier is configured to amplify the optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element; wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is co-doped with two elements. 41. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:optically coupling a first optical signal into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier; supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the first optical signal; and directing the first optical signal through a free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier; wherein the step of optically coupling comprises the step of optically coupling the first optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier. 42. A method in accordance with claim 41, wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is doped with erbium.43. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:optically coupling a first optical signal into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier; supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the first optical signal; and directing the first optical signal through a free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier; wherein the step of optically coupling comprises the step of optically coupling the first optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier; wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system. 44. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:optically coupling a first optical signal into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a fiber amplifier; supplying optical energy to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier to amplify the first optical signal; and directing the first optical signal through a free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier; wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is co-doped with two elements. 45. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core; an optical apparatus configured to optically couple a first optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier; and a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier and configured to direct the first optical signal through a free-space link. 46. An apparatus in accordance with claim 45, wherein the optical apparatus is further configured to optically couple the first optical signal into the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network.47. An apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein the fiber optic link comprises a portion of a long-haul fiber optic communication system.48. An apparatus in accordance with claim 45, wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is doped with erbium.49. An apparatus in accordance with claim 45, wherein the doped single mode core of the fiber amplifier is co-doped with two elements.50. A method of optical communication, comprising the steps of:receiving a first optical signal from a free-space link with a receive element; directing the first optical signal received from the free-space link by the receive element into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a first fiber amplifier that is optically coupled to the receive element; optically coupling a second optical signal into a doped single mode core of an optical fiber of a second fiber amplifier; directing the second optical signal through the free-space link with a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the second fiber amplifier; and optically coupling the first optical signal from the doped single mode core of the first fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 51. A method in accordance with claim 50, wherein the step of optically coupling the second optical signal comprises the step of optically coupling the second optical signal from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network into the doped single mode core of the second fiber amplifier.52. An apparatus for use in optical communications, comprising:a receive element configured to receive a first optical signal from a free-space link; a first fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core that is optically coupled to the receive element and that is configured to amplify the first optical signal; a second fiber amplifier that includes an optical fiber having a doped single mode core; a beam focusing element optically coupled to the doped single mode core of the second fiber amplifier and configured to direct a second optical signal amplified by the second fiber amplifier through the free-space link; and an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the first optical signal from the doped single mode core of the first fiber amplifier into a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network. 53. An apparatus in accordance with claim 52, further comprising:an optical apparatus configured to optically couple the second optical signal into the doped single mode core of the second fiber amplifier from a fiber optic link of a terrestrial optical communication network.
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