Optical amplifier
By introducing a circulator, polarization beam splitter and half-wave plate into the optical amplifier, combined with the prism design, the problem of uneven optical signal gain is solved, and the uniform gain of the optical signal and signal distortion avoidance is achieved, reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422520149.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-08
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-18
AI Technical Summary
The problem of uneven gain of optical signals in existing optical amplifiers, especially due to the uneven gain caused by polarization state sensitivity, the existing optimization chip method is expensive and difficult.
An optical amplifier is designed, including a circulator, a polarization beam splitter, a half-wave plate and an optical amplification chip. Through polarization beam splitting and polarization direction adjustment, the optical signal is ensured to enter in the same polarization state in the optical amplification chip, and the output optical signal is kept parallel to the input optical signal by using the first and second prisms to avoid signal distortion.
The uniform gain of the optical signal is achieved, signal distortion is avoided, cost is reduced, and the optical signal amplification effect is improved, and it has good application prospects.
Smart Images
Figure CN223207134U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of optical communications, in particular to an optical amplifier. Background Art
[0002] Optical fiber amplifiers (SOAs) are commonly used in fiber-optic communication systems to boost the strength of optical signals. Light experiences loss during transmission within optical fibers, with the magnitude of this loss proportional to the transmission distance. The primary function of an SOA is to amplify weak optical signals to compensate for this loss and extend the transmission distance.
[0003] In the prior art, optical signals are directly amplified by being incident on an SOA to achieve gain. However, the SOA is sensitive to the polarization state of the input optical signal. That is, light of different polarization states experiences different gains in the SOA, and signals of some polarization states in the directly amplified optical signal have the problem of uneven gain.
[0004] Although there are ways to optimize chips on the market to solve the SOA polarization sensitivity problem, the chip research and development technology is difficult, the process cycle is long, and the research and development cost is high, so this method is not ideal. Utility Model Content
[0005] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical amplifier for solving the problem of uneven gain caused by direct amplification of optical signals in the prior art.
[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned and other related purposes, the present invention provides an optical amplifier, comprising:
[0007] a circulator, the circulator being configured to receive and output optical signals;
[0008] A polarization beam splitter, which is used to split the incident optical signal into two optical signals with different orthogonal polarization states, and to combine the two amplified optical signals and output them; the half-wave plate is used to change the polarization direction of the optical signal passing through it;
[0009] A half-wave plate, which is used to change the polarization direction of the optical signal passing through it;
[0010] An optical amplifier chip, wherein the optical amplifier chip is used to amplify optical signals;
[0011] The first prism has a 180° refractive surface; the first prism corresponds to the half-wave plate and the optical amplifier chip at the same time, and the first prism receives the polarized light signal whose polarization direction is changed by the half-wave plate through the 180° refractive surface and refracts it into the optical amplifier chip.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical amplifier further includes a second prism having a 90° refractive surface. The second prism is disposed outside the output end of the circulator. After the amplified optical signal is output through the circulator, it is refracted by the 90° refractive surface of the second prism, so that the output optical signal remains parallel to the input optical signal.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first lens is disposed between the polarization beam splitter and the optical amplifier chip, and a second lens is disposed between the first prism and the optical amplifier chip.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least two first lenses are provided, and the plurality of first lenses are distributed in series between the polarization beam splitter and the optical amplifier chip.
[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the circulator is provided with a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is used to receive an incident optical signal, the second port is used to output an optical signal amplified by an optical amplifier chip, and the third port is used to transmit an optical signal between the circulator and the polarization beam splitter.
[0016] As described above, the optical amplifier of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0017] 1. The present invention simultaneously provides a circulator, a polarization beam splitter, and a half-wave plate and uses them in combination. The optical signal entering through the circulator is split into optical signals of different polarization states by the polarization beam splitter. Combined with the polarization compensation function of the circulator's λ / 2 wave plate, the optical signals of different polarization states can be adjusted, so that the optical amplifier chip can specifically amplify the gain of the input optical signals of different polarization states, thereby making the output optical signal exhibit consistent gain characteristics, thereby improving the optical signal amplification effect;
[0018] 2. By setting up the first prism and the second prism, the first prism can receive the polarized light signal whose polarization direction is changed by the half-wave plate through the 180° refractive surface and refract it into the optical amplifier chip, thereby improving the deflection effect of the half-wave plate on the polarized light signal; the second prism can refract the amplified light signal after passing through the circulator through the 90° refractive surface, so that the output light signal remains parallel to the input light signal, ensuring that the light signal can return along the original path after being reflected;
[0019] 3. The present invention rationally designs the structure of the optical amplifier, combining a circulator, a polarization beam splitter, and a half-wave plate to split the optical signal after input and output. Through the combination of the polarization beam splitter and the half-wave plate, the light entering the chip and being amplified is all in the same polarization state. The optical amplifier chip performs targeted single polarization gain on optical signals in different polarization states. At the same time, the amplification of the optical signal after splitting can also avoid the signal distortion problem caused by same-frequency amplification. This solution does not require optimization of the optical amplifier chip, effectively reducing costs while ensuring optical signal amplification. Therefore, this solution has excellent application prospects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Figure 1 Shown is a schematic diagram of the block structure of the optical amplifier disclosed in the present utility model.
[0021] Figure 2 Shown is a schematic diagram of optical signal amplification of the optical amplifier disclosed in the present utility model.
[0022] Component number description
[0023] Circulator 1; first port 11; second port 12; third port 13; polarization beam splitter 2; optical amplifier chip 3; first prism 4; second prism 5; half-wave plate 6; first lens 7; second lens 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following describes the implementation of the present invention through specific embodiments. People familiar with this technology can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification.
[0025] See also Figures 1 to 2 . It should be noted that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in the drawings of this specification are only used to match the contents disclosed in the specification for people familiar with this technology to understand and read, and are not used to limit the limiting conditions for the implementation of this utility model. Therefore, they have no substantive technical significance. Any modification of the structure, change in the proportional relationship or adjustment of the size should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed by this utility model without affecting the efficacy and purpose that can be achieved by this utility model. At the same time, the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "middle" and "one" quoted in this specification are only for the convenience of description, and are not used to limit the scope of the implementation of this utility model. Changes or adjustments in their relative relationships should also be regarded as the scope of the implementation of this utility model without substantially changing the technical content.
[0026] Example 1, please refer to Figure 1-2This embodiment provides an optical amplifier, which includes a circulator 1, a polarization beam splitter 2, a half-wave plate 6, an optical amplifier chip 3, a first prism 4, and a second prism 5, which are arranged in sequence. The circulator 1 is also provided with a first port 11, a second port 12, and a third port 13. The first port 11 is used to receive an incident optical signal, the second port 12 is used to output an optical signal amplified by the optical amplifier chip 3, and the third port 13 is used to transmit an optical signal between the circulator 1 and the polarization beam splitter 2. Therefore, the circulator 1 can be used to receive and output optical signals; in actual use, the half-wave plate 6 can be installed at any position between the polarization beam splitter 2 and the prism 1 without affecting the use effect, and the half-wave plate 6 can also be directly installed on the polarization beam splitter 2. The polarization beam splitter 2 is used to split the incident optical signal into two orthogonal optical signals with different polarization states, and to combine the two amplified optical signals and output them; please refer to Figure 1 , a is a beam of light signal, b is another beam of polarized light signal; the half-wave plate 6 is used to change the polarization direction of the light signal passing through it; the optical amplifier chip 3 is used to amplify the light signal; the utility model simultaneously sets a circulator 1, a polarization beam splitter 2, and a half-wave plate 6 and uses them in combination. The light signal entering through the circulator 1 is split into light signals of different polarization states by the polarization beam splitter 2, and the light signals of different polarization states are adjusted in combination with the half-wave plate 6, so that the light entering the optical amplifier chip 3 and being amplified is all of the same polarization state. The optical amplifier chip 3 performs targeted single polarization gain on the light signals of different polarization states, thereby improving the light signal amplification effect.
[0027] The first prism 4 has a 180° refractive surface; the first prism 4 corresponds to the half-wave plate 6 and the optical amplifier chip 3 at the same time. The first prism 4 receives the polarized light signal whose polarization direction is changed by the half-wave plate 6 through the 180° refractive surface and refracts it into the optical amplifier chip 3, thereby improving the deflection effect of the half-wave plate on the polarized light signal; the second prism 5 has a 90° refractive surface. The second prism 5 is arranged on the outer side of the output end of the circulator 1. The amplified light signal is refracted by the 90° refractive surface of the second prism 5 after being output by the circulator, so that the output light signal remains parallel to the input light signal, ensuring that the light signal can return to the original path after being reflected.
[0028] A first lens 7 is provided between the polarization beam splitter 2 and the optical amplifier chip 3. At least two first lenses 7 are provided, and multiple first lenses 7 are distributed in series between the polarization beam splitter 2 and the optical amplifier chip 3; a second lens 8 is provided between the first prism 4 and the optical amplifier chip 3; the first lens 7 and the second lens 8 can effectively focus the light beam, which is conducive to improving the signal amplification effect of the light beam.
[0029] In summary, the present invention utilizes a rationally designed optical amplifier structure, combining a circulator 1, a polarization beam splitter 2, and a half-wave plate 6. This allows the optical signal to be split after input and output, enabling the optical amplifier chip 3 to provide targeted amplification gain for optical signals of different polarization states. Furthermore, the amplification of the split optical signal can avoid signal distortion caused by co-frequency amplification. This solution eliminates the need for optimizing the optical amplifier chip 3, effectively reducing costs while ensuring optical signal amplification. Consequently, this solution has excellent application prospects. Therefore, the present invention effectively overcomes the various shortcomings of the prior art and possesses high industrial value.
[0030] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art may modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical principles disclosed in the present invention are intended to be covered by the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. An optical amplifier, characterized in that: The optical amplifier comprises: a circulator, the circulator being configured to receive and output optical signals; A polarization beam splitter, which is used to split the incident optical signal into two orthogonal optical signals with different polarization states, and to combine the two amplified optical signals and output them; A half-wave plate, which is used to change the polarization direction of the optical signal passing through it; An optical amplifier chip, wherein the optical amplifier chip is used to amplify optical signals; The first prism has a 180° refractive surface; the first prism corresponds to the half-wave plate and the optical amplifier chip at the same time, and the first prism receives the polarized light signal whose polarization direction is changed by the half-wave plate through the 180° refractive surface and refracts it into the optical amplifier chip.
2. The optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein: The optical amplifier also includes a second prism having a 90° refractive surface. The second prism is arranged outside the output end of the circulator. After the amplified optical signal is output through the circulator, it is refracted by the 90° refractive surface of the second prism, so that the output optical signal remains parallel to the input optical signal.
3. The optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein: A first lens is provided between the polarization beam splitter and the optical amplifier chip, and a second lens is provided between the first prism and the optical amplifier chip.
4. The optical amplifier according to claim 3, wherein: There are at least two first lenses, and the plurality of first lenses are distributed in series between the polarization beam splitter and the optical amplification chip.
5. The optical amplifier according to claim 1, wherein: The circulator is provided with a first port, a second port and a third port. The first port is used to receive an incident optical signal, the second port is used to output an optical signal amplified by an optical amplifier chip, and the third port is used to transmit an optical signal between the circulator and the polarization beam splitter.