Systems and methods for wavelength identification in optical fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021211217-A1
Application number	US-202117140836-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2021
Priority date	Jan 7, 2020
Publication date	Jul 8, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of wavelength identification in an optical fiber includes emitting light into the optical fiber. The light includes a data burst defining a wavelength identification code. The method also includes reading the wavelength identification code with a device. In an embodiment, the device can include an optical power meter. The method further includes automatically adjusting a wavelength of the device to the wavelength defined in the wavelength identification code. The method can further include displaying the wavelength of the light and a detected power level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device configured for use with an optical fiber, the device comprising processing circuitry coupled to storage, the processing circuitry configured to:
generate a wavelength identification code defining a wavelength associated with a light; integrate the wavelength identification code into a data burst associated with the light; and communicate the data burst to a wavelength-adjustable light source configured to emit the light into the optical fiber.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength identification code comprises a data string.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one bit of the data burst is configured to identify the wavelength identification code.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein at least one different bit of the data burst is configured to identify a quantity of wavelengths of the light corresponding to the wavelength identification code.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the wavelength associated with the light, the light being selectable from a range of wavelengths.

6 . A method of wavelength identification in an optical fiber, the method comprising:
generating a wavelength identification code defining a wavelength associated with a light to be emitted into the optical fiber; integrating the wavelength identification code into a data burst associated with the light; and emitting the light into the optical fiber.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of emitting light into the optical fiber is performed with a wavelength-adjustable light source.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the data burst is part of a byte of data associated with the light.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein emitting the light into the optical fiber is performed after integrating the wavelength identification code into the data burst.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wavelength associated with the light is generally in a range of 1270 nanometers (nm) and 1625 nm.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving the light at an optical power meter; and automatically adjusting a wavelength of the optical power meter to the wavelength defined in the wavelength identification code.

12 . A method of wavelength identification in an optical fiber, the method comprising:
emitting light into the optical fiber, the light comprising a wavelength identification code defining a wavelength of the light; reading the wavelength identification code with a device; automatically adjusting a wavelength of the device to the wavelength defined in the wavelength identification code; and displaying the wavelength of the light and a detected power level.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
adjusting the light to a different wavelength; reading a wavelength identification code defined within the different wavelength; automatically adjusting the wavelength of the device to the different wavelength; and displaying the different wavelength of the light and the detected power level.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
coupling the device to a different optical fiber if the displayed wavelength is different than expected.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the device is an optical power meter.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of emitting light into the optical fiber is performed with a wavelength-adjustable light source.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the wavelength identification code comprises a multi-bit data burst.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one bit of the multi-bit data burst is configured to identify the wavelength identification code.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one different bit of the multi-bit data burst is configured to identify a quantity of wavelengths of the light corresponding to the wavelength identification code.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one bit of the multi-bit data burst is configured to define a selector value configured to identify a quantity of wavelengths in another byte of the multi-bit data burst.

Assignees

• Afl Telecommunications Llc

Inventors

• Scholten Michael
• Prescott Scott
• Eddy Dale C
• Woodworth W Lee

Classifications

• G02B6/4286 Primary

  Optical modules with optical power monitoring · CPC title

• H04J14/0221

  Power control, e.g. to keep the total optical power constant · CPC title

• H04J14/0273 Primary

  using optical overhead, e.g. overhead processing · CPC title

• H04B10/572

  Wavelength control · CPC title

• H04B10/69

  Electrical arrangements in the receiver · CPC title