Optical amplifier module and related equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an optical amplifier module and related equipment. The optical amplifier module and the related equipment are used for realizing quick response under the condition of not generating noise interference. The light emitting module provided by the embodiment of the invention comprises a first light emitting unit, a first light splitting unit and a second light splitting unit. The first light emitting unit comprises a doped optical fiber. The input end and the output end of the first light emitting unit are connected with the first light splitting unit and the second light splitting unit respectively. The first light emitting unit, the first light splitting unit and the second light splitting unit form a first annular loop. The first light emitting unit is used for generating ASE light. The first light splitting unit, the second light splitting unit or the first filtering unit are used for transmitting out-of-band signals in the ASE light, and the out-of-band signals generate laser in the first annular loop. The first filtering unit is located on a light path between the second light splitting unit and the first light splitting unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of optical communication, and in particular to an optical amplifier module and related equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The optical amplifier module is used to amplify optical signals. In an optical communication network, some optical amplifier modules are arranged on a backup optical path or a master-slave optical path, and are used to amplify signal light when the signal light passes through. The optical amplifier module needs to go through a response process from no signal light input to signal light input.

[0003] The optical amplifier module of the doped fiber type amplifies signal light by injecting a pump current on the doped fiber. The time length from the signal light input optical path to the time when the pump current is stable to the preset value is the response time length of the doped fiber amplifier. In order to shorten the response time length, one method is to preset a small amount of pump current for the first-stage optical amplifier module (doped fiber) of the cascaded optical amplifier module, so that the first-stage optical amplifier module is in a state of emitting amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light, and the rear-stage optical amplifier module is in an auto gain control (AGC) state. The particles in all optical amplifier modules are in a low-pump-current working state of stimulated absorption and stimulated emission cycle. When the signal light is input, the particles in the doped fiber can immediately complete the stimulated emission transition from the metastable state level to the ground state, so as to realize fast response.

[0004] However, this scheme needs to strictly match the emission ASE power of the first-stage optical amplifier module, the gain step of the rear-stage optical amplifier module, the link insertion loss, and the like. If the emission ASE power is too high, noise interference will be generated on the downstream optical path; if the ASE power is too low, the rear-stage optical amplifier module cannot be in the AGC state, and the response speed is slow. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide an optical amplifier module and related equipment for realizing fast response without generating noise interference.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an optical amplifier module. The optical amplifier module includes a first optical amplifier unit, a first light splitting unit, and a second light splitting unit. The first optical amplifier unit includes a doped fiber. The input end and the output end of the first optical amplifier unit are connected to the first light splitting unit and the second light splitting unit, respectively. The first optical amplifier unit, the first light splitting unit, and the second light splitting unit constitute a first ring-shaped loop. The first optical amplifier unit is used to generate ASE light. The first light splitting unit, the second light splitting unit, or a first filter unit is used to transmit a band-out signal in the ASE light, and the band-out signal generates laser light in the first ring-shaped loop. The first filter unit is located on an optical path between the second light splitting unit and the first light splitting unit.

[0007] In the embodiments of the present application, the optical signal refers to light in the communication band. The out-of-band signal refers to light outside the communication band.

[0008] In the embodiments of the present application, by constructing the first ring circuit, the out-of-band signal in the ASE light generates laser on the first ring circuit. Thus, the intensity of the out-of-band signal in the first ring circuit is much higher than the intensity of the in-band optical signal. Thus, in the gain competition, the intensity of the in-band optical signal is suppressed by the high-intensity out-of-band signal, avoiding interference with the downstream optical path. Moreover, since the intensity of the in-band optical signal in the output signal of the optical amplifier module is low (the in-band optical signal can be lost by the fiber link between the optical amplifier module and the lower-level optical amplifier module), the intensity of the output signal of the optical amplifier module can be improved, ensuring that the subsequent optical amplifier module is in the AGC state and improving the response speed.

[0009] That is, when there is no signal input, each level of the optical amplifier module is in the pump-on state (ASE or AGC state), and the particles in the fiber maintain the process of stimulated absorption and stimulated emission. The delay caused by the particle lifetime in the process from no signal input to signal input is avoided, thereby shortening the optical amplification response time.

[0010] In the embodiments of the present application, when there is no signal input, the preset pump current of the optical amplifier module can be set to the level of the signal state. Thus, the wide-range adjustment of the pump current in the process from no signal input to signal input is avoided, and the optical amplification stabilization time is shortened.

[0011] In the embodiments of the present application, the first ring circuit can realize out-of-band laser oscillation, and the out-of-band laser can suppress the in-band optical signal through gain competition, avoiding the in-band optical signal in the ASE light from entering the subsequent optical amplifier module and being continuously amplified. Thus, the in-band optical signal in the ASE light is prevented from entering the downstream link to cause crosstalk to other paths.

[0012] In an optional implementation, the optical amplifier module further includes an attenuator. The attenuator is located on the optical path between the first light splitting unit and the second light splitting unit.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, the intensity of the out-of-band signal is controlled through the attenuator, thereby controlling the intensity of the laser and preventing the laser intensity from being too high to damage the first ring circuit.

[0014] In an optional implementation, the attenuator is a fixed attenuator or a variable optical attenuator (VOA).

[0015] In an optional implementation, the first light splitting unit is a wavelength division multiplexer, and the first light splitting unit is configured to transmit the out-of-band signal in the ASE light; and / or, the second light splitting unit is a wavelength division multiplexer, and the second light splitting unit is configured to transmit the out-of-band signal in the ASE light.

[0016] In the embodiment of the present application, the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted by the first light splitting unit and / or the second light splitting unit, so that the function of wavelength selection (selecting the out-of-band signals) in the first loop is integrated on the first light splitting unit and / or the second light splitting unit, which can simplify the optical path structure and reduce the cost.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the first light splitting unit and the second light splitting unit are both couplers. The optical amplifier module further includes a first filter unit, and the first filter unit is configured to transmit the out-of-band signals in the ASE light.

[0018] In the embodiment of the present application, the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted by the first filter unit, which can achieve better wavelength selection effect, ensure that all the transmitted light is the out-of-band signals, reduce the probability of the in-band signal light in the laser, and thus reduce the crosstalk to the downstream link.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the first light splitting unit is a wavelength selected switching (WSS), and the first light splitting unit is configured to transmit the out-of-band signals from the ASE light from the second light splitting unit.

[0020] In the embodiment of the present application, if the optical amplifier module is the first optical amplifier module in an optical multiplex section (OMS), there is a WSS (the WSS at the input end of the OMS) upstream of the optical amplifier module. The WSS inherent in the link is used as the first light splitting unit to construct the first loop, which can reduce the change to the OMS and reduce the conversion cost.

[0021] In an optional implementation, the first light splitting unit is further configured to attenuate the out-of-band signals.

[0022] In the embodiment of the present application, since the WSS itself can achieve the attenuation of the signals, the out-of-band signals are attenuated by the first light splitting unit (WSS) inherent in the link, so that an attenuator does not need to be additionally arranged in the optical amplifier module for attenuation, which can reduce the change to the OMS and reduce the conversion cost.

[0023] In a second aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides an optical multiplex section (OMS). The OMS includes a plurality of optical amplifier modules, and the plurality of optical amplifier modules are the optical amplifier modules in the first aspect or any optional implementation of the first aspect. The plurality of optical amplifier modules are connected in series, and in the two-stage optical amplifier modules in series, the second light splitting unit of the front-stage optical amplifier module is connected with the first light splitting unit of the rear-stage optical amplifier module.

[0024] In the embodiments of the present application, the multiple-stage optical amplification modules in series are all the optical amplification modules of the first aspect, and the first loop in each stage of the optical amplification modules can control the intensity of the optical signal output by the stage of the optical amplification modules, so as to ensure that the in-band signal intensity input into the next stage of the optical amplification modules is less than the threshold, and the fast response of the next stage of the optical amplification modules is realized without noise interference.

[0025] It is worth noting that the second light splitting unit of the previous stage of the optical amplification module and the first light splitting unit of the next stage of the optical amplification module can be connected through a fiber link.

[0026] In the third aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide an optical multiplexing section OMS. The OMS includes a first optical amplification module, a second optical amplification module and a second filter unit. The first optical amplification module is the optical amplification module of the first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect. The second optical amplification module is connected with the second light splitting unit of the first optical amplification module, and the second filter unit is connected with the second optical amplification module. The second filter unit is used to receive light from the second optical amplification module and block the out-of-band signal in the light from the second optical amplification module.

[0027] In the embodiments of the present application, the first optical amplification module is the optical amplification module of the first aspect, and the first loop in the first optical amplification module can control the intensity of the in-band optical signal output by the stage of the optical amplification modules, so as to ensure that the in-band signal intensity input into the next stage of the optical amplification modules is less than the threshold, and the fast response of the next stage of the optical amplification modules is realized without noise interference. Moreover, the second filter unit is arranged after the second optical amplification module, so that the out-of-band signal is used to make each stage of the optical amplification modules in the pump-on state (ASE or AGC state) between the first optical amplification module and the second optical amplification module, and the out-of-band signal is filtered after the second optical amplification module to avoid crosstalk to the downstream link.

[0028] In an optional implementation manner, the second optical amplification module includes multiple doped optical fibers in series.

[0029] In an optional implementation manner, the second filter unit is a wavelength selective switch WSS.

[0030] In the embodiments of the present application, if the second optical amplification module is the last stage of the optical amplification module in the optical multiplexing section OMS, there is originally a WSS (the WSS of the output end of the OMS) downstream of the optical amplification module. The out-of-band signal is filtered through the inherent WSS in the link, and no additional filter needs to be arranged after the second optical amplification module, which can reduce the change to the OMS and reduce the modification cost.

[0031] In the fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide an optical communication system. The optical communication system includes the optical multiplexing section OMS of the second aspect or the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1a A system schematic diagram of optical communication of the present application;

[0033] Figure 1b Another system schematic diagram of optical communication of the present application;

[0034] Figure 2 A structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 3 Another structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 4 Another structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 5 Another structural schematic diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 6 A structural schematic diagram of an optical multiplexing section OMS provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 7 Another structural schematic diagram of an optical multiplexing section OMS provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 8 Another structural schematic diagram of an optical multiplexing section OMS provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 9 A structural schematic diagram of an optical communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that, with the development of technology and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0043] The terms "first", "second", and the like in the description and in the claims of the present application and the above drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and are merely employed for descriptive purposes. Furthermore, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "have", "having", "include", "including", "contain", "containing", or any other similar phrase are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains items or elements that are not listed is not excluded from the scope. In addition, "one or more" means one, or one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent the cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0044] Figure 1a The structure of an optical communication system is shown. The optical communication system includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and an optical fiber. The transmitting device is configured to perform electro-optical modulation to carry a signal in an optical signal, and input the optical signal into the optical fiber for transmission. The optical fiber is configured to transmit the optical signal. The receiving device is configured to receive and analyze the optical signal.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1a , the optical communication system can further include an optical amplifier module. The optical amplifier module is located between the transmitting device and the receiving device. The optical amplifier module is configured to perform relay amplification on the optical signal to improve the power of the optical signal at the receiving device. Thus, the attenuation and distortion of the signal are reduced, and the reliability and transmission quality of the signal transmission are improved.

[0046] Optionally, the optical amplifier module can also exist in any optical communication device (such as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a relay node, etc.) of the optical communication system, and is configured to perform amplification on the optical signal.

[0047] In an optical communication network, some optical amplifier modules are arranged on a standby optical path or a master-slave optical path, and are configured to amplify the signal light when the signal light passes through. As shown in Figure 1b , the optical amplifier module needs to go through a response process from no signal light input to signal light input.

[0048] As shown in Figure 1bAs shown in the figure, two optical transform units (OTUs) are connected via a WSS, with multiple paths being called an optical multiplexing section (OMS). Each OMS includes multiple optical amplifier modules. If a working path (OMS) fails, the optical signal transmitted on that working path is switched to the protection path (OMS) for transmission.

[0049] Doped fiber optical amplifier modules amplify signal light by injecting a pump current into the doped fiber. The time from when the signal light enters the optical path until the pump current stabilizes to a preset value is the response time of the optical amplifier module.

[0050] In order to shorten the response time, one method is to pre-set a small amount of pump current for the first-stage optical amplifier module (doped fiber) of the cascaded optical amplifier module, so that the first-stage optical amplifier module is in the state of emitting amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and the subsequent optical amplifier modules are in the automatic gain control (AGC) state.

[0051] Whether in the ASE or AGC state, the particles operate at a low pump current, cycling through stimulated absorption and stimulated emission. Therefore, in this method, the particles in all optical amplifier modules operate at a low pump current, cycling through stimulated absorption and stimulated emission. When signal light is input, the particles in the doped fiber (in each optical amplifier module) can immediately transition from the metastable energy level to the ground state via stimulated emission, achieving a rapid response.

[0052] However, this solution requires strict matching of the transmit ASE power of the first-stage optical amplifier module, the gain level of the subsequent optical amplifier module, and the link insertion loss. If the transmit ASE power is too high, it will cause noise interference in the downstream optical path; if the ASE power is too low, the subsequent optical amplifier module cannot enter the AGC state, resulting in a slow response speed.

[0053] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of the present application provide an optical amplifier module and related equipment. These embodiments employ a ring loop within the optical amplifier module. This loop utilizes gain competition to achieve out-of-band lasing of signals with specific wavelengths, thereby suppressing the intensity of in-band ASE output by the optical amplifier module. The out-of-band signal within the optical amplifier module's output signal is relatively high in intensity. This signal, when passed to subsequent optical amplifier modules, can place the subsequent optical amplifier modules in AGC mode, thereby improving their response speed.

[0054] like Figure 2 As shown, the optical amplifier 2000 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes: a first optical amplification unit 2100, a first optical splitting unit 2200 and a second optical splitting unit 2300.

[0055] The first optical amplification unit 2100 includes a doped optical fiber. The first optical amplification unit 2100 can be an erbium-doped optical fiber, a ytterbium-doped optical fiber, or another type of doped optical fiber, which is not limited in the present application. The erbium-doped optical fiber can be a common single-mode erbium-doped optical fiber, a large-mode-area erbium-doped optical fiber, or a double-clad erbium-doped optical fiber, and the doping element includes but is not limited to erbium.

[0056] The input end and the output end of the first optical amplification unit 2100 are connected to the first optical splitting unit 2200 and the second optical splitting unit 2300, respectively. The first optical amplification unit 2100, the first optical splitting unit 2200, and the second optical splitting unit 2300 form a first ring resonator.

[0057] In the embodiments of the present application, the light is divided into an optical signal in a communication band (also referred to as in-band light) and light outside the communication band (also referred to as out-of-band light) according to the wavelength band of the light. The communication band is a wavelength band used for communication defined in an optical communication system, and the communication band is specific to the network configuration.

[0058] For example, if L band is set for signal transmission in an optical communication system, the L band is the communication band, and the light outside the L band (such as the light in the C band, the O band, etc.) is the light outside the communication band.

[0059] The light outside the communication band includes pump light, which is not limited in the present application.

[0060] The first optical amplification unit 2100 is loaded with a preset current, so as to generate ASE light through the first optical amplification unit 2100. The second optical splitting unit 2300 is used for splitting the ASE light, transmitting the light in the communication band to the optical fiber link (i.e., the downstream optical amplification module), and transmitting the out-of-band light in the out-of-band band to the first ring resonator. That is, the second optical splitting unit 2300 is used for transmitting the out-of-band signal in the ASE light, so that the out-of-band signal is transmitted in the first ring resonator.

[0061] The out-of-band signal generates laser light in the first ring resonator. Specifically, the first ring resonator realizes out-of-band laser oscillation of a specific wavelength (specifically, the out-of-band band) through gain competition, thereby suppressing the intensity of the in-band ASE light output by the optical amplification module 2000. Specifically, the first ring resonator is a ring resonator structure, which can make a single-mode laser of a specific wavelength circulate and oscillate therein. In the first ring resonator, the out-of-band laser repeatedly absorbs pump energy in the doped optical fiber, while suppressing the intensity of the in-band ASE light.

[0062] It's worth noting that the preset current is applied to the first optical amplifier unit 2100 even when no optical signal is entering the optical amplifier module 2000. When an optical signal is entering the optical amplifier module 2000 (i.e., when the optical amplifier module 2000 is responding), the preset current continues to be applied to the first optical amplifier unit 2100. Because an optical signal is entering the optical amplifier module 2000, the gain competition between the in-band optical signal and the out-of-band signal on the first optical amplifier unit 2100 gives the in-band optical signal an advantage. The first optical amplifier unit 2100 amplifies the in-band optical signal and transmits the amplified in-band optical signal to the downstream optical amplifier module.

[0063] Optionally, the function of transmitting the out-of-band signal in the ASE light may also be implemented by the first optical splitting unit 2200 or by the first filtering unit 2400 .

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, the optical amplifier module 2000 may further include a first filtering unit 2400. The first filtering unit 2400 is located on the optical path between the second optical splitting unit 2400 and the first optical splitting unit 2300. The first filtering unit 2400 is used to transmit laser light within a specific spectral range and block other wavelengths.

[0065] In this embodiment of the present application, a first loop is constructed so that the out-of-band signal in the ASE light generates laser light on the first loop. This results in the intensity of the out-of-band signal in the first loop being much higher than the intensity of the in-band optical signal. Consequently, during gain competition, the high-intensity out-of-band signal suppresses the intensity of the in-band optical signal, preventing interference with the downstream optical path.

[0066] Moreover, since the intensity of the in-band optical signal in the output signal of the optical amplifier module 2000 is relatively low (the in-band optical signal can be lost by the optical fiber link between the optical amplifier module 2000 and the lower-level optical amplifier module), the intensity of the output signal of the optical amplifier module 2000 can be improved, ensuring that the lower-level optical amplifier module is in the AGC state, thereby improving the response speed.

[0067] That is, when there is no signal input, all OA modules are in the pump-on state (ASE or AGC state), and the particles in the fiber maintain the stimulated absorption and stimulated emission process. This avoids the delay caused by particle lifetime from no signal input to signal input, thereby shortening the OA response time.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present application, when there is no signal input, the preset pump current of the optical amplifier module 2000 can be set to the level of the signal state. This avoids the need for large-scale adjustment of the pump current during the transition from no signal input to signal input, thus shortening the optical amplifier stabilization time.

[0069] In the embodiment of the present application, the first loop can realize out-of-band laser oscillation, and the out-of-band laser can suppress the in-band optical signal in the ASE light, so as to avoid the in-band optical signal in the ASE light from entering the subsequent optical amplifier module and being continuously amplified, thereby avoiding the in-band optical signal in the ASE light from entering the downstream link and causing crosstalk to other path services.

[0070] Optionally, the second light splitting unit 2300 splits the out-of-band signal in the ASE light output by the first optical amplifier unit 2100 according to a specific splitting ratio, so that part of the out-of-band signal enters the downstream link. The power of the out-of-band signal can be recognized by the downstream optical amplifier module, so that the downstream optical amplifier module enters the AGC working mode and amplifies the power of the out-of-band signal.

[0071] The gain compensation of the downstream optical amplifier module to the out-of-band signal compensates the front-end link insertion loss (i.e., the insertion loss of the link between the optical amplifier module 2000 and the downstream optical amplifier module). The out-of-band signal can be controlled by designing the splitting ratio or isolation of the second light splitting unit 2300, so as to control the power of the out-of-band signal entering the downstream optical amplifier module. In this way, each level of the downstream optical amplifier module is in the AGC working mode and compensates the power of the out-of-band signal.

[0072] Therefore, in the no-signal input state, all the doped optical fibers are in the pump-on state. When the signal light is input, the signal light enters the optical amplifier to suppress the out-of-band laser, thereby realizing that the signal light is in the AGC working mode.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present application, in the no-signal input state, each level of the optical amplifier module is in the pump-on state, and the particles in the doped optical fiber maintain the stimulated absorption and stimulated radiation processes. The delay caused by the particle lifetime in the process from the no-signal input to the signal input is avoided, thereby shortening the optical amplification response time.

[0074] In the embodiment of the present application, in the no-signal input state, the preset pump current of each level of the optical amplifier module can be set to the level in the signal state. Therefore, the large-range adjustment of the pump current in the process from the no-signal input to the signal input is avoided, and the optical amplification stabilization time is shortened.

[0075] In the embodiment of the present application, the first loop can realize out-of-band laser oscillation, and the out-of-band laser can suppress the in-band ASE of the doped optical fiber, so as to avoid the in-band ASE from entering the subsequent optical amplifier module and being continuously amplified, thereby avoiding the in-band ASE from entering the link and causing crosstalk to other path services.

[0076] Optionally, the optical amplifier module 2000 can further include an attenuator 2500. As shown in FIG. 2B, the attenuator 2500 is located on the optical path between the second light splitting unit 2300 and the first light splitting unit 2200. Figure 2

[0077] ​In the embodiment of the present application, the strength of the out-of-band signal is controlled by the attenuator 2500, so as to control the strength of the laser, and prevent the laser from damaging the first loop due to too high strength.

[0078] In the embodiment of the present application, the optical attenuator 2500 is also used to control the strength of the out-of-band laser, so as to realize the amplification of the optical signal in response of the optical amplifier module 2000. The preset current is loaded on the first optical amplifier unit 2100 when there is no optical signal entering the optical amplifier module 2000. When there is optical signal entering the optical amplifier module 2000 (i.e. in response of the optical amplifier module 2000), the preset current is continuously loaded on the first optical amplifier unit 2100.

[0079] The strength of the out-of-band laser is controlled by the attenuator 2500 to be less than the strength of the optical signal. After the optical signal enters the optical amplifier module 2000, the strength of the optical signal is greater than the strength of the out-of-band laser, so that the in-band optical signal has the advantage in the gain competition between the in-band optical signal and the out-of-band signal on the first optical amplifier unit 2100. The first optical amplifier unit 2100 amplifies the in-band optical signal, and transmits the amplified in-band optical signal to the next optical amplifier module.

[0080] Optionally, the attenuator 2500 can be a fixed attenuator or a variable optical attenuator (VOA), which is not limited in the present application.

[0081] The variable optical attenuator adjusts the strength of the out-of-band laser within a certain range, and the fixed attenuator attenuates the strength of the out-of-band laser.

[0082] It is worth noting that if the optical amplifier module 2000 includes both the attenuator 2500 and the first filter unit 2400, the attenuator 2500 can be located on the optical path between the first filter unit 2400 and the first optical splitter unit 2200 (as shown in Figure 2 , or can be located on the optical path between the first filter unit 2400 and the second optical splitter unit 2300, which is not limited in the present application.

[0083] In the embodiment of the present application, the first optical splitter unit 2200 and the second optical splitter unit 2300 can be various types of optical splitter units, which will be described respectively as follows:

[0084] 1. The first optical splitter unit 2200 and / or the second optical splitter unit 2300 is a wavelength selective switch (WDM).

[0085] As shown in Figure 3 , if the first optical splitter unit 2200 is a wavelength selective switch 2200, and the second optical splitter unit 2300 is a coupler 2300, the first optical splitter unit 2200 can transmit the out-of-band signal in the ASE light.

[0086] In an alternative implementation, the first light splitting unit 2200 can be a coupler, and the second light splitting unit 2300 can be a wavelength division multiplexer, and the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted through the second light splitting unit 2300.

[0087] The first light splitting unit 2200 can also be an optical isolator. The optical isolator is configured to limit the transmission of the optical signal in a specific direction (specifically, to limit the transmission of the optical signal from the input end of the first light amplification unit 2100 to the input end of the optical amplification module 2000.

[0088] In an alternative implementation, the first light splitting unit 2200 and the second light splitting unit 2300 can both be wavelength division multiplexers, and the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted through the first light splitting unit 2200 and the second light splitting unit 2300.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted through the first light splitting unit 2200 and / or the second light splitting unit 2300, so that the function of wavelength selection (selecting the out-of-band signals) in the first ring circuit is integrated on the first light splitting unit 2200 and / or the second light splitting unit 2300, which can simplify the optical path structure and reduce the cost.

[0090] 2. The first light splitting unit 2200 and the second light splitting unit 2300 are couplers.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 2, the first light splitting unit 2200 is a coupler 2200, and the second light splitting unit 2300 is a coupler 2300. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 2, the first light splitting unit 2200 is a coupler 2200, and the second light splitting unit 2300 is a coupler 2300.

[0092] In the embodiments of the present application, the out-of-band signals in the ASE light are transmitted through the first filter unit 2400, which can achieve better wavelength selection effect, ensure that the transmitted light is all out-of-band signals, reduce the probability of the appearance of in-band signal light in the laser, and thus reduce the crosstalk to the downstream link.

[0093] 3. The first light splitting unit 2200 is a wavelength selective switch WSS.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 2, the first light splitting unit 2200 is a coupler 2200, and the second light splitting unit 2300 is a coupler 2300. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 2, the first light splitting unit 2200 is a coupler 2200, and the second light splitting unit 2300 is a coupler 2300.

[0095] The light input to the optical amplifier module 2000 is transmitted to the first optical amplifier unit 2100 via the WSS 2200. The ASE light from the second optical splitter unit 2300 is transmitted through the WSS 2200 to obtain an out-of-band signal, while the in-band signal in the ASE light is blocked by the WSS 2200.

[0096] In this embodiment of the present application, if the optical amplifier module 2000 is the first-stage optical amplifier module in the optical multiplexing section (OMS), there is already a WSS upstream of the optical amplifier module 2000 (the WSS at the input end of the OMS). By using the inherent WSS in the link as the first optical splitter unit 2200 to construct the first ring loop, changes to the OMS can be reduced, reducing modification costs.

[0097] Optionally, the WSS2200 can also attenuate out-of-band signals in ASE light.

[0098] In the embodiment of the present application, since the WSS itself can attenuate the signal, the out-of-band signal is attenuated by the first optical splitter unit (WSS2200) inherent in the link. There is no need to set an additional attenuator in the optical amplifier module 2000 for attenuation, which can reduce changes to the OMS and reduce the modification cost.

[0099] The optical amplifier module 2000 provided in the embodiment of the present application is described above. The optical multiplexing section OMS and optical communication system including the optical amplifier module 2000 provided in the embodiment of the present application are described below.

[0100] The optical multiplex section provided in the embodiments of the present application includes multiple types, which are described below in detail:

[0101] 1. The optical multiplexing section includes multiple optical amplifier modules 2000 connected in series.

[0102] like Figure 6 As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides an optical multiplexing section OMS 6000. The OMS 6000 includes multiple optical amplifier modules 2000. The multiple optical amplifier modules are Figure 2 to Figure 5 The optical amplifier module 2000 described in any embodiment.

[0103] The multiple optical amplifier modules 2000 are connected in series. In the two-stage optical amplifier modules 2000 connected in series, the second optical splitting unit 2300 of the front-stage optical amplifier module 2000 is connected to the first optical splitting unit 2200 of the rear-stage optical amplifier module 2000.

[0104] In the embodiment of the present application, the cascaded multiple optical amplifier modules 2000 are the main path of the optical signal. The embodiment of the present application sets a preset current for the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 and controls the optical signal intensity generated by the preset current on the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 through a first ring loop.

[0105] In the embodiment of the present application, the first loopback circuit in each stage of the optical amplifier module can control the intensity of the optical signal output by the stage of the optical amplifier module, so as to ensure that the in-band signal intensity input into the subsequent stage of the optical amplifier module is less than the threshold value, and the fast response of the subsequent stage of the optical amplifier module is realized without noise interference.

[0106] It is worth noting that the second light splitting unit 2300 of the front stage of the optical amplifier module and the first light splitting unit 2200 of the subsequent stage of the optical amplifier module can be connected through an optical fiber link as shown in Figure 6 , or can be directly connected, and the present application does not limit this.

[0107] The input end and the output end of the OMS 6000 each have a WSS, and a plurality of optical amplifier modules 2000 can be connected in series between the two WSSs.

[0108] In an optional implementation, the first stage of the optical amplifier module 2000 in the OMS 6000 can be in the structure as shown in Figure 5 . That is, the input end WSS (the WSS on the left side in Figure 6 ) of the OMS 6000 is integrated in the first stage of the optical amplifier module 2000 in the OMS 6000 as the first light splitting unit 2200 in the first stage of the optical amplifier module 2000.

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, the first stage of the optical amplifier module in the optical multiplexing section OMS 6000 originally has a WSS (which is the WSS at the input end of the OMS 6000) upstream. The WSS inherent in the link is used as the first light splitting unit 2200 of the first stage of the optical amplifier module, and the first loopback circuit is constructed, which can reduce the change to the OMS and reduce the modification cost.

[0110] In an optional implementation, the output end WSS (the WSS on the right side in Figure 6 ) of the OMS 6000 is integrated in the last stage of the optical amplifier module 2000 in the OMS 6000 as the second light splitting unit 2300 in the last stage of the optical amplifier module 2000.

[0111] In the embodiment of the present application, the last stage of the optical amplifier module in the optical multiplexing section OMS 6000 originally has a WSS (which is the WSS at the output end of the OMS 6000) downstream. The WSS inherent in the link is used as the second light splitting unit 2300 of the last stage of the optical amplifier module, and the first loopback circuit is constructed, which can reduce the change to the OMS and reduce the modification cost.

[0112] On the one hand, the wavelength of the out-of-band laser can be selected through the WSS, and on the other hand, the attenuation of the out-of-band laser can be configured through the WSS, so as to control the oscillation state of the out-of-band signal.

[0113] For the first-stage optical amplifier module in the OMS 6000, the out-of-band laser enters the downstream optical amplifier module according to a specific splitting ratio of the second splitting unit 2300, and the power of the out-of-band laser can be recognized by the second-stage optical amplifier module, so that the second-stage optical amplifier module enters the AGC working mode and amplifies the power of the out-of-band laser.

[0114] The gain compensation of the front-end link of the second-stage optical amplifier module compensates the insertion loss, so that the out-of-band laser can be controlled by designing the splitting ratio or isolation of the second splitting unit 2300, and then the power of the out-of-band laser entering the second-stage optical amplifier module is controlled. Similarly, each stage of the downstream optical amplifier module is in the AGC working mode and compensates the power of the out-of-band laser.

[0115] Therefore, in the no-signal input state, the doped optical fiber of each stage of the optical amplifier module is in the pump-on state. When the signal is input, the signal enters the doped optical fiber to suppress the out-of-band laser, and then the signal is in the AGC working mode.

[0116] 2, the optical multiplexing section includes a first optical amplifier module 2000 and a second optical amplifier module.

[0117] As shown in Figure 7 , the embodiment of the application provides an optical multiplexing section OMS 7000. The OMS 7000 includes a first optical amplifier module 2000, a second optical amplifier module 3000, and a second filter unit 4000.

[0118] The first optical amplifier module 2000 is the optical amplifier module 2000 described in any one of the embodiments. Figure 2 to Figure 5

[0119] The second optical amplifier module 3000 is connected with the second splitting unit 2300 of the first optical amplifier module 2000, and the second filter unit 4000 is connected with the second optical amplifier module 3000.

[0120] In the embodiment of the application, the cascaded multiple optical amplifier modules (the first optical amplifier module 2000 and the second optical amplifier module 3000) are the main path of the optical signal. The embodiment of the application sets a preset current for the first-stage first optical amplifier module 2000, and controls the intensity of the optical signal generated by the preset current on the first optical amplifier module 2000 through the first ring circuit.

[0121] The second filter unit 4000 is used to receive the light from the second optical amplifier module 3000 and block the out-of-band signal in the light from the second optical amplifier module 3000.

[0122] ​In the embodiment of the present application, the first-stage optical amplifier module in the OMS 7000 is the first optical amplifier module 2000. The first ring loop in the first optical amplifier module 2000 can control the intensity of the in-band optical signal output by the optical amplifier module of this stage, thereby ensuring that the in-band signal intensity input to the subsequent optical amplifier module (the second optical amplifier module 3000) is less than the threshold value, and realizing the rapid response of the subsequent optical amplifier module without generating noise interference.

[0123] In addition, a second filtering unit 4000 is provided after the second optical amplifier module 3000, so that the out-of-band signal is passed between the first optical amplifier module 2000 and the second optical amplifier module 3000 to put the optical amplifier modules of each level into the pump-on state (ASE or AGC state), and the out-of-band signal is filtered out after the second optical amplifier module 3000 (i.e., after the last optical amplifier of the OMS 7000) to avoid crosstalk on the downstream link.

[0124] In an optional implementation, the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 in the OMS 7000 may be Figure 5 The structure shown. Figure 8 As shown, the input terminal WSS ( Figure 7 The WSS on the left in the middle is integrated into the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 of the OMS 7000 and serves as the first optical splitting unit 2200 in the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000.

[0125] In this embodiment of the present application, the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 in the optical multiplexing section (OMS) 6000 already has a WSS upstream (the WSS at the input end of the OMS 6000). By using the inherent WSS in the link as the first optical splitter unit 2200 of the first-stage optical amplifier module 2000 to construct a first ring loop, changes to the OMS can be minimized, reducing modification costs.

[0126] In an optional implementation, the second optical amplification module 3000 may include a plurality of doped optical fibers connected in series.

[0127] In an optional implementation, the second filtering unit 4000 is a wavelength selective switch WSS.

[0128] In this embodiment of the present application, if the final optical amplifier module (the final second optical amplifier module 3000) in the optical multiplexing section (OMS) 7000 already has a WSS downstream (the WSS at the output of the OMS 7000), the inherent WSS in the link can be used to filter out out-of-band signals. This eliminates the need for an additional filter after the second optical amplifier module 3000, minimizing changes to the OMS and reducing modification costs.

[0129] The present application also provides an optical communication system. Figure 9 As shown, the optical communication system includesFigure 6 the optical multiplexing section OMS 6000 in the illustrated embodiment, and / or, Figure 7 or Figure 8 the optical multiplexing section OMS 7000 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0130] In an alternative implementation, the optical communication system comprises a Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) site, the ROADM site comprising the optical multiplexing section OMS 6000 or the optical multiplexing section OMS 7000.

[0131] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, devices and units can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0132] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented by other manners. For example, the above-described device embodiments are only schematic, for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the units or components shown or discussed can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0133] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment scheme.

[0134] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The above integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0135] The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present application essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

Claims

1. An optical amplifier module, characterized by comprising: The optical amplifier module comprises a first optical amplifier unit, a first optical splitting unit and a second optical splitting unit, the first optical amplifier unit comprises a doped optical fiber; The input end and the output end of the first optical amplifier unit are connected with the first optical splitting unit and the second optical splitting unit respectively, and the first optical amplifier unit, the first optical splitting unit and the second optical splitting unit form a first ring circuit; The first optical amplifier unit is used for generating ASE light; The first optical splitting unit, the second optical splitting unit or a first filter unit are used for transmitting a band-out signal in the ASE light, the band-out signal generates laser light in the first ring circuit, and the first filter unit is located on an optical path between the second optical splitting unit and the first optical splitting unit.

2. The optical amplifier module of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising an attenuator; The attenuator is located on the optical path between the second optical splitting unit and the first optical splitting unit.

3. The optical amplifier module of claim 2, wherein, The attenuator is a fixed attenuator or a variable optical attenuator (VOA).

4. The optical amplifier module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first optical splitting unit is a wavelength division multiplexer, and the first optical splitting unit is used for transmitting the band-out signal in the ASE light; and / or The second optical splitting unit is a wavelength division multiplexer, and the second optical splitting unit is used for transmitting the band-out signal in the ASE light.

5. The optical pump module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The first optical splitting unit and the second optical splitting unit are both couplers; The optical amplifier module further comprises the first filter unit, and the first filter unit is used for transmitting the band-out signal in the ASE light.

6. The optical pump module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The first optical splitting unit is a wavelength selective switch (WSS), and the first optical splitting unit is used for transmitting the band-out signal from the ASE light from the second optical splitting unit.

7. The optical amplifier module of claim 6, wherein, The first optical splitting unit is further used for attenuating the band-out signal.

8. An optical multiplex section (OMS), characterized by, The optical amplifier module comprises a plurality of optical amplifier modules, and each optical amplifier module is the optical amplifier module according to any one of claims 1 to 7; The plurality of optical amplifier modules are connected in series, and in two-stage optical amplifier modules in series, the second optical splitting unit of a front-stage optical amplifier module is connected with the first optical splitting unit of a rear-stage optical amplifier module.

9. An optical multiplex section (OMS), characterized by, The optical amplifier module comprises a first optical amplifier module, a second optical amplifier module and a second filter unit, and the first optical amplifier module is the optical amplifier module according to any one of claims 1 to 7; The second optical amplifier module is connected with the second optical splitting unit of the first optical amplifier module, and the second filter unit is connected with the second optical amplifier module; The second filter unit is used for receiving light from the second optical amplifier module and blocking a band-out signal in the light.

10. The OMS of claim 9, wherein, The second optical amplifier module comprises a plurality of doped optical fibers connected in series.

11. The OMS of claim 10, wherein, The second filter unit is a wavelength selective switch (WSS).

12. An optical communication system, characterized by The optical multiplexing section (OMS) comprises the optical amplifier module according to any one of claims 8 to 11.

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