Optical delay unit, optical line emulator including such a unit and methods realized by such an optical delay unit and by such an optical line emulator

摘要

The optical delay unit (ODL) introduces a programmable delay of an optical signal on an optical signalpath. The delay of the optical signal is realised by converting the incoming optical signal (IN) into an electrical signal, then delaying the electrical signal, using electronic devices in an electrical delay unit (ELDL), and finally converting the electrical signal into an optical signal. The electrical delay is controlled by an operator sending control data (A) via a control interface (CI) to the electrical delay unit (ELDL). A first use relates to the testing of the normal operation and/or performance of an optical network for different optical line lengths. A second use relates to the inclusion of the delay unit in an optical line emulator (OLE) wherein this optical delay unit (ODL) is coupled to an optical attenuator (ATT) which is also controlled by an operator sending control data (B) via the control interface (CI) and a power control unit (PCU). This optical line emulator (OLE) simulates an optical line by simulating the delay and the attenuation of an optical signal on the optical signal path on which the optical signal is transmitted.