Thomas V Stephens

US Patent:

6344922, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Feb 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/253819

Inventors:

Stephen G. Grubb - Columbia MD
Raymond Zanoni - Columbia MD
Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD
Deepak Boggavarapu - Columbia MD
Ruxiang Jin - Ellicott City MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

359334, 359134, 35934131

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.

US Patent:

6356383, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Mar 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/540708

Inventors:

Stephen G. Grubb - Columbia MD
Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD
Ruxiang Jin - Ellicott City MD
Alistair J. Price - Columbia MD
Michael C. Antone - Ellicott City MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

359334, 35934133

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.

US Patent:

6377389, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/544486

Inventors:

Stephen G. Grubb - Columbia MD
Raymond Zanoni - Columbia MD
Thomas D. Stephens - Ellicott City MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H01S 330

US Classification:

359334, 359337, 359341

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.

US Patent:

6426821, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

Apr 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/544482

Inventors:

Alistair J. Price - Columbia MD
Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04B 1000

US Classification:

359156, 359122, 359140, 359181, 359188, 359250, 359254, 359256, 359259, 385 11, 385 42, 385 44, 385 45, 385 46, 385 47

Abstract:

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed that provide for simultaneously upconverting electrical signals carrying information at electric frequencies onto optical subcarrier lightwave frequencies that are greater and less than the carrier frequency of the lightwave onto which the electrical frequencies were upconverted. The upconversion of the electrical signals can be performed with or without suppression of the optical carrier frequency.

US Patent:

6538783, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Sep 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/398541

Inventors:

Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04J 1402

US Classification:

359127, 359130, 385 17, 385 37

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention include an add/drop device and/or cross-connect device, which is reconfigurable to add and drop signal wavelengths between one or more transmission paths. The add/drop device includes a first selective element configurable to pass a first group of signal wavelengths including at least a first signal wavelength from an input path to a first add/drop path and pass continuing signal wavelengths differing from the first group of signal wavelength to a second add/drop path. A second selective element is provided that is configurable to pass a second group of signal wavelengths including at least a second signal wavelength from said first add/drop path and continuing signal wavelengths differing from the second group of wavelengths from said second add/drop path to an output path. The second selective element is further configured to pass the second group of signal wavelengths from said second add/drop path and wavelengths differing from the second wavelength from said first add/drop path to a drop path. The add/drop device may also include an add path to introduce add signal wavelengths directly to the output path or via at least one of the first and second selective elements.

US Patent:

6563614, May 13, 2003

Filed:

May 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/317141

Inventors:

Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD
Mark A. Kelty - Catonsville MD
Alistair J. Price - Columbia MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H04B 1000

US Classification:

359110, 359153, 359115, 359124

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention generally include an optical signal controller disposed along an optical link between two optical nodes. The optical signal controller is configured to provide a monitoring signal from an optical signal passing between the nodes as a plurality of wavelength sub-bands at least one of which includes a plurality of signal channels. The controller generates a compensating channel having an optical power that is a function of the monitoring signal power in the plurality of wavelength sub-bands or total power. The compensating channel is combined with the optical signal to compensate for power variations in the optical signal passing between the nodes. In addition, the compensating channels can be used to transmit communication or system supervisory information between monitoring points and/or nodes in the system.

US Patent:

6587261, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

May 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/316995

Inventors:

Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD
Raymond Zanoni - Columbia MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

359337, 3593414, 356 72

Abstract:

Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier configured to provide optical amplification of one or more information carrying optical signal wavelengths. At least one optical amplifier is controlled based on an in situ performance characterization of the at least one optical amplifier and the transmission fiber. The in situ, or installed, performance characteristics of the optical amplifier can be characterized based on relative gain measurements over the signal wavelength range as a function of the supplied pump power. The installed characterization allows the optical amplifier performance and gain profiles to be tightly controlled over the signal wavelength range in the transmission system.

US Patent:

6771413, Aug 3, 2004

Filed:

Jan 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/046962

Inventors:

Stephen G. Grubb - Columbia MD
Thomas D. Stephens - Columbia MD
Ruxiang Jin - Ellicott City MD
Alistair J Price - Columbia MD
Michael C. Antone - Ellicott City MD

Assignee:

Corvis Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

H01S 300

US Classification:

3593371, 359334

Abstract:

Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.