OPTICAL CHANNEL MONITOR FOR A WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH EMPLOYING A SINGLE PHOTODIODE

摘要

A method of monitoring at least one optical wavelength component of a WDM optical signal being routed through a wavelength selective switch (WSS) includes directing an optical wavelength component from a given input port of the WSS to a selected output port with a selected amount of attenuation. A rejected portion of the optical wavelength component giving rise to the selected amount of attenuation is directed to an optical monitor associated with another output port of the WSS. A power level of the optical wavelength component is determined by pre-calibrating a proportionality between the power level of the wavelength component and the power level of the rejected portion that is directed to the optical monitor.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring at least one optical wavelength component of a WDM optical signal being routed through a wavelength selective switch (WSS), comprising:
selecting a first phase pattern to be produced by an SLM from among a first plurality of phase patterns that (i) directs a first optical wavelength component from a first input port of the WSS to a selected output port and (ii) causes the first wavelength component to undergo a first selected amount of attenuation, the first phase pattern being further selected to cause a first rejected portion of the first optical wavelength component giving rise to the first selected amount of attenuation to be directed to an optical monitor associated with another output port of the WSS; periodically programming a first portion of the SLM with the first phase pattern; and directing the first optical wavelength component to the first portion of the SLM while the first portion of the SLM is periodically configured with the first phase pattern.