METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRONIC VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATORS (EVOAS)

摘要

A system and method for operating a plurality of eVOAs in an optical network is provided. The system comprises a number of eVOAs, each eVOA coupled to one o r more optical taps and connected to a microcontroller. The microcontroller compris es a monitor signal processing controller for measuring the power of the optical signal a t the eVOAs; a scheduler for continuously cycling and checking the eVOAs operating attenuations; a microprocessing controller for determining, setting, adjusting and updating the eVOA operating attenuation and a means for communications between the microprocessor and the other controller within the system. The microcontroller cycles through the plurality of eVOAs and controls one eVOA at a time according to a predetermined method of the eVOA operation. Individual eVOAs may be controlled according to the same or different methods of controlling operations thereof as required