IMPROVED OPTICAL AMPLIFIER AND/OR ADD/DROP STRUCTURE

摘要

A bi-directional optical amplifier structure (10) is disclosed, the structure comprising a blocking, multi-port optical circulator (MOC) structure (12, 14), a unidirectional amplifier unit (16) optically connected in series between a first and second ports of the MOC structure, a first reflection filter (20) optically connected in series between a third and a fourth ports of the MOC structure and a second reflection filter (18) optically connected in series between a fifth and a sixth ports of the MOC structure. The amplifier structure (10) is arranged such that a first optical signal (lambdaEAST) entering through a seventh port of the MOC structure passes through the first reflection filter (20) prior to be amplified in the amplifier unit (16) and is reflected at the second reflection filter (18) prior to exiting the amplifier structure (10) at an eighth port of the MOC structure, and such that a second optical signal (lambdaWEST) entering through the eighth port of the MOC structure is reflected at the first reflection filter (20) prior to be optically amplified in the amplifier unit (16) and passes through the second reflection filter (18) prior to exiting the amplifier structure (10) at the seventh port. A bi-directional add/drop structure is also disclosed