| United States Patent |
5,978,119
|
|
Giles
,   et al.
|
November 2, 1999
|
System and method for synchronizing an optical source and a router in a
wavelength division multiplexed fiber optic network
Abstract
A system and method for maintaining alignment between a source and router
in a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber optic network. In a
preferred embodiment, a narrow band of the wavelengths emitted by the WDM
source is designated as a monitor channel. The monitor channel is matched
in wavelength to a fiber grating that is located in the optical path
between the source and router so that the grating reflects the monitor
channel light while allowing all other source light to pass through
unimpeded. By monitoring the reflected light and adjusting the source
wavelengths to maximize the amount of reflected light, alignment between
the source and router is maintained.
| Inventors:
|
Giles; Clinton Randy (Morganville, NJ);
Jiang; Song (Whippany, NJ)
|
| Assignee:
|
Lucent Technologies Inc. (Murray Hill, NJ)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
802809 |
| Filed:
|
February 18, 1997 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
398/95; 372/23; 398/1; 398/49; 398/87; 398/90 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H04J 014/02 |
| Field of Search: |
359/124,125,127,128,129,130,132,133,187
372/23,99,100,102,107,20,32
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5410404 | Apr., 1995 | Kersey et al. | 356/345.
|
| 5428635 | Jun., 1995 | Zhiglinsky et al. | 372/102.
|
| 5450427 | Sep., 1995 | Fermann et al. | 372/102.
|
| 5467418 | Nov., 1995 | Dragone | 385/37.
|
| 5469520 | Nov., 1995 | Morey et al. | 385/37.
|
| 5691989 | Nov., 1997 | Rakuljic et al. | 372/102.
|
Other References
C.R. Giles et al., Access PON Using Downstream 1550-nm WDM Routing and
Upstream 1300-nm SCMA Combining Through a Fiber-Grating Router, IEEE
Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 8, No. 11, pp. 1549-1551 (Nov. 1996).
N.J. Frigo et al., RITE-Net: A Passive Optical Network Architecture Based
on the Remote Interrogation of Terminal Equipment, OFC 1995, PD 8, pp.
PD1-PD3 (Feb. 1995).
M. Zirngibl et al., LARNet, a Local Access Router Network, IEEE Photonics
Technology Letters, vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 215-217 (Feb. 1995).
|
Primary Examiner: Pascal; Leslie
Claims
We claim:
1. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) reflecting means located in a substantially straight optical path
between the source and router, said reflecting means selectively
reflecting source light at one or more of the source wavelengths while
allowing light at the remaining source wavelengths to pass through
unimpeded; and
b) means for monitoring the amount of said reflected light and adjusting
the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said reflected light.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is located
within an input port of the router.
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said reflecting means comprises a
fiber grating that is written into the router.
4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the optical path between the source
and router comprises an optical fiber.
5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said reflecting means comprises a
fiber grating that is written into said optical fiber.
6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring and
adjusting comprises a synchronous detector.
7. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflecting means in a substantially straight optical path
between the source and router for selectively reflecting source light at
one or more of the source wavelengths while allowing light at the
remaining source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded;
b) monitoring the amount of said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said
reflected light.
8. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) reflecting means located in a substantially straight optical path
between the source and router, said reflecting means selectively
reflecting source light at one or more of the source wavelengths while
allowing light at the remaining source wavelengths to pass through
unimpeded; and
b) means for monitoring said reflected light and adjusting the source
wavelengths according to a null in said reflected light so that the source
remains in wavelength alignment with said reflecting means.
9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said reflecting means is located
within an input port of the router.
10. The invention of claim 8, wherein said reflecting means comprises a
fiber grating that is written into the router.
11. The invention of claim 8, wherein the optical path between the source
and router comprises an optical fiber.
12. The invention of claim 11, wherein said reflecting means comprises a
fiber grating that is written into said optical fiber.
13. The invention of claim 8, wherein said means for monitoring and
adjusting comprises a synchronous detector.
14. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflecting means in a substantially straight optical path
between the source and router for selectively reflecting source light at
one or more of the source wavelengths while allowing light at the
remaining source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded;
b) monitoring said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths according to a null in said reflected
light so that the source remains in wavelength alignment with said
reflecting means.
15. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) reflecting means located in the optical path at the output of the
router, said reflecting means reflecting source light at one or more of
the source wavelengths back through the router toward the source; and
b) means for monitoring the amount of said reflected light and adjusting
the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said reflected light.
16. The invention of claim 15, wherein said reflecting means is a broadband
reflector.
17. The invention of claim 15, wherein the optical path between the source
and router comprises an optical fiber.
18. The invention of claim 15, wherein said means for monitoring and
adjusting comprises a synchronous detector.
19. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflecting means in the optical path at the output of the
router, said reflecting means reflecting source light at one or more of
the source wavelengths back through the router toward the source;
b) monitoring the amount of said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said
reflected light.
20. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) reflecting means located in the optical path between at the output of
the router, said reflecting means reflecting source light at one or more
of the source wavelengths back through the router toward the source; and
b) means for monitoring said reflected light and adjusting the source
wavelengths according to a null in said reflected light so that the source
remains in wavelength alignment with said reflecting means.
21. The invention of claim 20, wherein said reflecting means is a broadband
reflector.
22. The invention of claim 20, wherein the optical path between the source
and router comprises an optical fiber.
23. The invention of claim 20, wherein said means for monitoring and
adjusting comprises a synchronous detector.
24. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflecting means in the optical path at the output of the
router, said reflecting means reflecting source light at one or more of
the source wavelengths back through the router toward the source;
b) monitoring said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths according to a null in said reflected
light so that the source remains in wavelength alignment with said
reflecting means.
25. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) reflector located in a substantially straight optical path between the
source and router, said reflector selectively reflecting source light at
one or more of the source wavelengths while allowing light at the
remaining source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded; and
b) a feedback circuit which monitors the amount of said reflected light and
adjusts the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said reflected
light.
26. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflector having a substantially straight optical path
between the source and router for selectively reflecting source light at
one or more of the source wavelengths while allowing light at the
remaining source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded;
b) monitoring the amount of said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said
reflected light.
27. A system for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising:
a) a reflector located in the optical path at the output of the router,
said reflector reflecting source light at one or more of the source
wavelengths back through the router toward the source; and
b) a feedback circuit which monitors the amount of said reflected light and
adjusts the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said reflected
light.
28. A method for maintaining wavelength alignment between an optical source
and router, wherein the source generates source light that is made up of
light at a plurality of source wavelengths, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reflector in the optical path at the output of the router,
said reflector reflecting source light at one or more of the source
wavelengths back through the router toward the source;
b) monitoring the amount of said reflected light; and
c) adjusting the source wavelengths to maximize the amount of said
reflected light.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fiber optics, and more particularly to wavelength
division multiplexed fiber optic networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A common type of fiber optic network is the Wavelength Division Multiplexed
(WDM) network. In a typical WDM network, a multifrequency source is used
to generate two or more signals of distinct wavelengths. A single fiber is
used to carry the signals to a remote router where they are distributed to
network subscribers according to their wavelengths. Similarly, in networks
which provide for two-way signaling, the router may be used to combine
signals generated by the subscribers.
To maximize the efficiency of a WDM network, the router must accurately
track the source wavelengths. The router is essentially a comb filter
which, ideally, has its lobes centered on the source signal wavelengths.
Accordingly, when the lobes of the router are not aligned with the source
wavelengths the router will attenuate the signals intended for the
subscribers, the level of attenuation being proportional to the amount of
misalignment between the source and the router. Moreover, misalignment of
the source and router can result in crosstalk between router outputs,
decreasing performance even further. Misalignment may occur, for example,
when a temperature change at the source causes the source frequencies to
drift or, similarly, when a temperature change at the router causes the
router filter bands to drift.
In an attempt to eliminate misalignment between sources and routers network
designers have proposed loopback WDMs. In a loopback system, a portion of
the signal received by a subscriber is fed back, via a separate feedback
fiber, to a central station. The power level of the feedback signal is
examined. Any misalignment between the source and router shows up as a
drop-off in the power level of the feedback signal and realignment may be
achieved by adjusting the source wavelengths to maximize the feedback
signal. Such a system, however, requires a separate fiber line to provide
the feedback to the central station, and therefore the overall cost of a
network employing the system is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a WDM network according to the present invention the feedback necessary
to maintain alignment between a WDM source and a WDM router is provided
without employing a loopback fiber.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a narrow band of the
wavelengths emitted by the source is designated as a monitor channel. The
monitor channel is matched in wavelength to a fiber grating that is
located in the optical path between the source and the router. The grating
is designed to reflect all light of the monitor channel wavelength while
allowing all other source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded.
Preferably, the grating is located in close proximity to the router so
that any environmentally induced wavelength drift that is experienced by
the router will also be experienced by the grating. In this manner, the
drift in the grating tracks the drift in the router.
Under normal operating conditions the monitor channel and fiber grating
remain in wavelength alignment with each other and the amount of reflected
monitor channel light is at its peak value. However, if an environmental
disturbance causes the source and grating to fall out of alignment the
amount of reflected monitor channel light is less than the peak value, the
decrease in reflected light being proportional to the misalignment between
the source and grating. Since the grating tracks the router, the decrease
in reflected light is also proportional to the misalignment between the
source and router. Thus, the decrease in reflected light can be used as an
error signal that indicates the amount of misalignment between the source
and router. This error signal is fed back to the WDM source for the
purpose of adjusting the source wavelengths to compensate for the
misalignment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber
optic system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2A-2C show examples of reflectivity characteristics that may be
realized through fiber gratings.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternative Wavelength Division Multiplexed
(WDM) router suitable for use in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber
optic system in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph depicting the reflection characteristic of a fiber
grating used in a test embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the transmission characteristic of a fiber
grating used in a test embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph depicting router transmission vs. grating transmission
for a test embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a graph depicting multifrequency source output vs. router port
output for a test embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) fiber
optic system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
As can be seen from the figure, the WDM system includes a multifrequency
source 10 which is capable of generating source light in N+1 different
wavelength bands (or "channels"). There are many types of multifrequency
sources which can be used with the invention. For example, multifrequency
source 10 may be a multifrequency laser in the form of an integrated
distributed feedback array. Alternatively, source 10 may be made up of
several individual lasers, each transmitting within a distinct wavelength
band.
In any event, the source light bands are combined for transmission through
an optical fiber link 12 which guides the light to a WDM router 14. An
optical junction 18 is located in the optical path between the source and
fiber for a purpose to be described below. With regard to light emanating
from the source toward fiber 12, junction 18 allows all such light to pass
through to the router and directs little or no light into fiber 13. Once
at the router, the light bands allocated for use by network subscribers
are uncombined for reception by the subscribers.
Of the N+1 channels, as many as N channels are designated for use by
network subscribers. These channels are termed "subscriber channels". Each
one of the subscriber channels is used to carry optical transmissions to a
particular network subscriber, and therefore the source light for a
particular subscriber channel is modulated according to the information
intended for reception by the subscriber assigned to that channel. The
remaining one or more channels are designated as monitor channels. (For
purposes of illustration only single monitor channel systems will be
considered hereafter.)
The monitor channel is not intended for reception by network subscribers,
but rather, is used to maintain wavelength alignment between the
multifrequency source and the router. Referring back to FIG. 1, the
monitor channel is matched in wavelength to a fiber grating 16 that is
located in the optical path between the source and the router. The grating
is designed to reflect all light of the monitor channel wavelength while
allowing light of all other source wavelengths to pass through unimpeded.
Preferably, the grating is located in close proximity to the router so
that any environmentally induced wavelength drift that is experienced by
the router will also be experienced by the grating. In this manner, the
drift in the grating tracks the drift in the router.
Under normal operating conditions the monitor channel and fiber grating
remain in wavelength alignment with each other and the amount of reflected
monitor channel light is at its peak value. However, if an environmental
disturbance causes the source and grating to fall out of alignment the
amount of reflected monitor channel light is less than the peak value, the
decrease in reflected light being proportional to the misalignment between
the source and grating. Since the grating tracks the router, the decrease
in reflected light is also proportional to the misalignment between the
source and router. Thus, the decrease in reflected light can be used as an
error signal that indicates the amount of misalignment between the source
and router. This error signal is fed back to the WDM source for the
purpose of adjusting the source wavelengths to compensate for the
misalignment.
Upon reflection by the fiber grating, monitor channel light is guided back
toward the multifrequency source by the fiber link until it reaches tap
18. The tap, e.g. a directional coupler, directs the reflected light into
fiber 13 which, in turn, directs the reflected light to a feedback circuit
20. The feedback circuit's function is to maximize the reflected light
through adjustment of the source wavelengths. To achieve high dynamic
range in the feedback circuit synchronous detection (or "lock-in)
techniques may be employed.
An important consideration in the FIG. 1 system, and in the invention in
general, is the reflection characteristics of the fiber grating. An ideal
grating reflects 100% of the monitor channel light while allowing 100% of
the subscriber channel light to pass through unimpeded. Practical
gratings, on the other hand, will allow some monitor channel light to pass
and will reflect some subscriber channel light.
FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate reflectivity characteristics of fiber gratings that
may be used with the invention. The horizontal axis in the figures
represents wavelength in nanometers and the vertical axis represents
reflectivity in percent. FIG. 2A shows the reflectivity characteristic of
a narrowband grating. Superimposed on the curve, and indicated by a dotted
line, is an idealized reflectivity characteristic. FIG. 2B shows the
characteristic of a grating having high reflectivity at the center of its
band and lower reflectivity at the perimeter of its band. This
characteristic may be alternatively realized by combining two gratings, a
narrowband grating having high reflectivity and a broadband grating having
lower reflectivity. FIG. 2C shows the reflectivity characteristic of a
grating filter having a null in its center. This characteristic may be
alternatively realized by combining two narrowband gratings having offset
wavelengths. When this type of filter shape is employed the feedback
circuit locks on to the null rather than the peak.
Another important consideration in the invention is how environmental drift
in the source (rather than the router) affects performance. In this
regard, it is noted that the invention will compensate for environmental
drift in the source in the same manner that it compensates for drift in
the router. As discussed above, drift in the router wavelength causes a
decrease in reflected monitor channel light. Likewise, a drift in the
source wavelengths causes a decrease in reflected monitor channel light.
Regardless of the source of the decrease the feedback circuit will attempt
to compensate for it, and therefore drift in the source is handled in the
same way that drift in the router is handled.
It is also important to note that for the drift compensation to work with
maximum effectiveness it is necessary for all the source wavelengths
(including the monitor channel) to drift together as a comb of
wavelengths. That is, for maximum effectiveness all the source wavelengths
must drift the same amount. Under such conditions the monitor channel
drift compensation, as determined through the error signal, is precisely
the amount of compensation necessary for the source channels, thereby
allowing for optimum source channel compensation. However, if the drift in
one or more of the source channels is different from the drift in the
monitor channel, the compensation as applied to those channels is somewhat
less than optimum. The greater the difference between the drift in a
particular source channel and the drift in the monitor channel, the less
effective the compensation for that source channel.
Often, the amount a channel drifts is dependent on its frequency. In the
FIG. 1 system, for example, the highest frequency channel may drift a
given amount, the second highest frequency channel a little less, the
third highest frequency channel even less, and so on. In such a system,
the maximum amount of difference between monitor channel drift and source
channel drift may be minimized by selecting the monitor channel from a
channel situated at or near the center of the frequencies spanned by the
N+1 channels. Although the monitor channel may be chosen from any of the
N+1 channels, choosing it towards the center ensures that it will drift by
an amount that is halfway (or about halfway) between the drifts
experienced by the outerlying source channels.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) router 22
suitable for use in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The router is
coupled to a fiber link 12' via an input port 24. The fiber link is
analogous to link 12 in FIG. 1 and, like link 12, it is the optical path
through which the router is coupled to a multifrequency source. The input
port includes a fiber grating 16'. Grating 16' performs the same function
as grating 16 of FIG. 1.; however, by writing the grating directly into
the router the need for a separate fiber grating is obviated and the
environmental coupling between the grating and router is improved. The
improved coupling provides for better environmental tracking between the
grating and router, and therefore improves overall system performance.
FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention. Any element
that appears in both FIGS. 1 and 4 performs the same function in both
embodiments and is assigned the same reference numeral. Accordingly, the
multifrequency laser 10 of FIG. 4, like the laser of FIG. 1, generates
source light in N+1 different wavelength bands, one of which is used as a
monitor channel. The source light that is intended for subscribers is
distributed to the subscribers through fiber link 12 in combination with
WDM router 24. Furthermore, the monitor channel light is reflected back
toward the multifrequency laser and is redirected toward the feedback
control circuit 20 by tap 18. The feedback control circuit uses
information gleaned from the monitor channel to maintain alignment of the
source and router.
However, unlike the FIG. 1 embodiment, the FIG. 4 embodiment does not
include a fiber grating for the purpose of selectively reflecting the
monitor channel light from within the combined source light. Instead, the
monitor channel light is reflected after it has passed through the router
and been separated from the subscriber channel light. As shown in the
figure, this may be done by placing a reflector 28 in the path of the
router output corresponding to the monitor channel.
When comparing the FIG. 4 embodiment to the other presented embodiments two
important distinctions should be noted. First, in the FIG. 4 embodiment
the monitor channel light passes through the router, and is therefore
attenuated due to the fiber/router coupling loss. The attenuation is
exacerbated by the fact that the monitor channel light takes a round trip
through the router, once upon transmission from the source and once upon
reflection toward the feedback circuit. By contrast, in the FIG. 1
embodiment, the monitor channel light need not pass through the router at
all, and thus is not affected by the fiber/router coupling loss.
Accordingly, in applications where the level of monitor channel light is
critical, the FIG. 1 embodiment is preferred. Second, in the FIG. 4
embodiment, the monitor channel occupies one of the router outputs,
thereby reducing the number of router outputs that can be used to service
subscribers. By contrast, in the FIG. 1 embodiment, the monitor channel
does not have to pass through the router and may therefore be selected to
lie between router channels. In this manner the monitor channel does not
interfere with full utilization of the router.
An experiment was conducted to test the FIG. 1 embodiment and demonstrate
the viability of the invention. For purposes of the test, the error signal
returned by fiber grating 16 was measured but not used to adjust the
multifrequency source's wavelengths. Instead, the source wavelengths were
adjusted through temperature tuning. The test is described in more detail
below.
The multifrequency source used in the test was a 24 channel
integrated-optic multifrequency laser. The light emitted from the laser
was in the 1555 nm wavelength region with 100 GHz channel spacing and a
total fiber/junction output power of -9.90 dBm. The laser was used to
generate 7 subscriber channels having 200 GHz channel spacing. The
channels were modulated with 50 Mb/s pseudorandom Nonreturn-to-Zero (NRZ)
data.
The fiber link used for the test was a 6.3 km link made of 5 connectorized
sections. The link was coupled to a fiber grating having a 13.6 GHz, 3 dB
reflection bandwidth centered at 1557.0 nm (Temperature=20.degree. C.).
The grating's reflection characteristic and transmission characteristic
are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.
The router used in the experiment was an 8 channel arrayed-waveguide
grating router with 200 GHz channel spacing and 8.9 dB average insertion
loss. The router was coupled to the fiber grating's output, and both the
router and grating were placed inside a temperature controlled oven.
During the test the router's output ports were left unterminated to
simulate a worst-case condition. The transmission characteristic of the
router as compared to that of the grating is shown in FIG. 7. As can be
seen from the figure, the fiber grating wavelength is offset from the
wavelength of the nearest router channel by about 0.6 nm (Temperature
=19.3.degree. C.).
The monitor channel for the test was chosen to be in the region of 1558 nm.
It was spaced 100 GHz from the nearest subscriber channel. The overall
frequency plan of the multifrequency laser is shown in FIG. 8. Also shown,
is the output of the router port that is closest to the monitor channel in
wavelength. As can be seen, there is no significant interference between
the monitor channel and the router port output.
The results of the test are documented in Table I. The Normalized Router
Output measurements shown in the table were taken from the router port
closest to the monitor channel in wavelength. The following test procedure
was invoked.
TABLE I
______________________________________
Channel
Temperature of
Temperature of
Normalized Wave-
Router and
Multifrequency
Router Output
Error Signal
length
Grating (.degree. C.)
Laser (.degree. C.)
(dB) (uV) (nm)
______________________________________
19.3 14.5 0.0 42.5 1558.65
73.0 14.5 -8.6 0.9 1558.65
73.0 19.3 +0.5 35.5 1559.22
______________________________________
First, the router and grating were stabilized at room temperature
(19.3.degree. C.) and the multifrequency laser was temperature tuned to
obtain the maximum error signal. As noted from line 1 of the table, a
maximum error signal of 42.5 uV was achieved at a multifrequency laser
temperature of 14.5.degree. C. and a monitor channel wavelength of 1558.65
nm. The router output under these conditions was used as a reference for
the remainder of the test, and thus the Normalized Router Output for line
1 of the table is 0 dB.
Next, the temperature of the oven was increased to 73.0.degree. C. so that
the router and grating would attain a temperature of 73.0.degree. C. This
resulted in the loss of both the router output signal and the error signal
(line two of the table). Finally, the error signal was reestablished by
increasing the multifrequency laser temperature from 14.5.degree. C. to
19.3.degree. C. As the error signal was reestablished the Normalized
Router Output was restored (line three of the table). Thus, by temperature
tuning the source according to the monitor channel feedback, alignment was
achieved between the source and the router output closest to the monitor
channel in wavelength. Moreover, since the source was a multifrequency
laser alignment between the source and the router output closest to the
monitor channel resulted in alignment between the source and all other
router outputs. Thereby, demonstrating that wavelength alignment between
the source and router may be maintained by observing the monitor channel
reflection and adjusting the source accordingly.
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in
detail, those familiar with the art to which the invention relates will
recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *