Optical pumping and powering in spatially multiplexed transmission links

摘要

A spatially multiplexed optical link having a plurality of transmission paths, wherein at least one transmission path is configured to carry an optical-pump signal while one or more other transmission paths carry data-bearing signals. Disposed within the optical link are an optical signal-distribution module and an amplifier module. The optical signal-distribution module is configured to couple portions of the optical-pump signal into the data-bearing transmission paths. The amplifier module is configured to amplify the data-bearing signals using these portions of the optical-pump signal as a power source in a suitable all-optical amplification scheme. The optical-pump signal can optionally be tapped and applied to a photovoltaic element configured to directly power a device, e.g., an optical performance monitor, or to charge the battery of that device to enable its autonomous operation if external electrical power is not available where the device is deployed.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising an optical signal-distribution module configured to end-connect to first and second multi-core optical fibers such that each optical core of the first multi-core optical fiber is end-connected to a corresponding optical core of the second multi-core optical fiber, wherein the optical signal-distribution module is configured to:
transfer a portion of optical power of a first optical core of the first multi-core optical fiber to each of two or more optical cores of the second multi-core optical fiber; and transfer optical power of each of the one or more second optical cores of the first multi-core optical fiber to a corresponding one of the two or more optical cores of the second multi-core optical fiber.