James C Murdock

US Patent:

6421167, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Mar 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/519037

Inventors:

Leonard George Cohen - Atlanta GA
David Brian Patterson - Succasunna NJ
James Harold Murdock - Randolph NJ
Brian Charles Moore - Morristown NJ
Adolph Henry Moesle - Murray Hill NJ
Koo Il Kang - Edison NJ
Darlene Louise Hart - Morristown NJ

Assignee:

General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. - Greensboro NC

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

359337, 3593371, 3593375, 359349

Abstract:

Multiple function bandwidth management systems. Bandwidth-management systems for an optical network are easily assembled by concatenating a plurality of intelligent, miniaturized, bandwidth-management modules (BMMs) together. The BMMs subdivide the wide available spectrum into narrow band segments. Each individual BMM is designed to overcome loss and optimize dispersion, gain, and power or gain equalization for a few channels at a time. Each device includes optical connectors and filters, as well as any other components necessary to direct the band of optical channels through the devices optical path while passing other optical channels within the spectrum to additional devices which can be connected without disturbing existing bandwidth-management modules. Each BMM also includes a digital control module that operates the BMM in any one of a plurality of selectable operating modes.