Distortion measurement in optical communication systems

1. A method of measuring the amplitude distortion component in an optical transmission signal subject to noise and amplitude distortion components, the method comprising controlling by a processor to determine the amplitude distortion component by analysing the bit error ratio (BER) of the signal as a function of a movable decision threshold, wherein the analysis is performed in a high bit error ratio area of the function, away from a center of an eye, and in a low bit error ratio area closer to the centre of the eye.

2. A method as claimed in claims 1 , wherein the analysis comprises the steps of:

determining BER values as a function of the position of said movable decision threshold in said high bit error ratio area and in said low bit error ratio area;

extrapolating the BER values in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area to obtain respective first and second decision threshold values corresponding to a predetermined value of BER in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area;

determining the difference V 1 between said first and second decision threshold values in the low bit error ratio area;

determining the difference V 2 between said first and second decision threshold values in the high bit error ratio area; and

determining the ratio V 1 /V 2 as a measure of the amplitude distortion component of the signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said predetermined value of BER is 0.25.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said analysis is performed on values of BER after Q conversion in accordance with the function Q=2 1/2 erfc −1 (4×BER), in which erfc is the complementary error function.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing said BER values by comparing the said signal with a said variable decision threshold.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

estimating a second bit error ratio by projecting BER values from said first and second decision threshold values in the high bit error ratio area and at the same gradient as said extrapolations in the lower bit error ratio area; and

determining the intersection of said projected BER values to obtain an estimated BER value, indicative of an optical signal-to-noise ratio of said optical signal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , performed by a programmed computer.

8. A computer programmed to perform the method of claim 1 .

9. An optical transmission system comprising measuring means to measure the amplitude distortion component in an optical transmission signal subject to noise and amplitude distortion components, the measuring means adapted to measure the amplitude distortion component by analyzing the bit error ratio (BER) of the signal as a function of a movable decision threshold, wherein said measuring means is adapted to perform said analysis in a high bit error ratio area of the function, away from a center of an eye, and in a low bit error ratio area closer to the centre of the eye; and further comprising comparing means to provide said BER values by comparing the signal with a variable decision threshold.

10. An optical transmission system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said measuring means comprises:

BER determining means to determine BER values as a function of the position of said movable decision threshold in said high bit error ratio area and in said low bit error ratio area;

BER extrapolating means to extrapolate the BER values in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area to obtain respective first and second decision threshold values corresponding to a predetermined value of BER in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area;

first difference determining means to determine the difference V 1 between said first and second decision threshold values in the low bit error ratio area;

second difference determining means to determine the difference V 2 between said first and second decision threshold values in the high bit error ratio area; and

dividing means to determine the ratio V 1 /V 2 as a measure of the amplitude distortion component of the signal.

11. An optical transmission system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said predetermined value of BER is 0.25.

12. An optical transmission system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said analysis is performed on values of BER after Q conversion in accordance with the function Q=2 1/2 erfc −1 (4×BER), in which erfc is the complementary error function.

13. An optical transmission system, comprising optical receiver means to detect optical transmission signals and convert them into their electrical equivalent, clock extraction means to extract clock timing signals from the received optical signals, first and second digital-to-analogue converters providing first inputs to first and second analogue amplifiers, said optical receiver means providing second inputs to said first and second analogue amplifiers, first and second bi-stable circuit means connected respectively to outputs of said first and second analogue amplifiers and synchronised by said extracted clock signals, outputs of said bi-stable circuit means connected to inputs of an exclusive-OR gate, an output of said exclusive-OR gate providing error signals input to a counter, whereby said counter accumulates a count representing the bit error ratio in said received optical signals, and said digital-to-analogue converters being controlled by processor means to determine decision threshold separations V 1 and V 2 in the eye that represent amplitude distortion components in said received optical signals.

14. An optical receiver comprising detector means to detect optical signals from an optical transmission system and convert them into their electrical equivalent, the receiver comprising measuring means to measure the amplitude distortion component in a said optical signal subject to noise and amplitude distortion components, the measuring means adapted to measure the amplitude distortion component by analysis of the bit error ratio (BER) of the signal as a function of a movable decision threshold, wherein said measuring means is adapted to perform said analysis in a high bit error ratio area of the function, away from a center of an eye, and in a low bit error ratio area closer to the centre of the eye.

15. An optical receiver as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said measuring means comprises:

BER determining means to determine BER values as a function of the position of said movable decision threshold in said high bit error ratio area and in said low bit error ratio area;

BER extrapolating means to extrapolate the BER values in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area to obtain respective first and second decision threshold values corresponding to a predetermined value of BER in both the high bit error ratio area and the low bit error ratio area;

first difference determining means to determine the difference V 1 between said first and second decision threshold values in the low bit error ratio area;

second difference determining means to determine the difference V 2 between said first and second decision threshold values in the high bit error ratio area; and

dividing means to determine the ratio V 1 /V 2 as a measure of the amplitude distortion component of the signal.

16. An optical receiver as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said predetermined value of BER is 0.25.

17. An optical receiver as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said analysis is performed on values of BER after Q conversion in accordance with the function: Q=2 1/2 erfc −1 (4×BER), in which erfc is the complementary error function.

18. An optical receiver as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising comparing means to provide said BER values by comparing the said signal with a said variable decision threshold.

19. An optical receiver comprising detector means to detect optical signals from an optical transmission system and convert them into their electrical equivalent, clock extraction means to extract clock timing signals from the received optical signals, first and second digital-to-analogue converters providing first inputs to first and second analogue amplifiers, said optical receiver means providing second inputs to said first and second analogue amplifiers, first and second bi-stable circuit means connected respectively to outputs of said first and second analogue amplifiers and synchronised by said extracted clock signals, outputs of said bi-stable circuit means connected to inputs of an exclusive-OR gate, an output of said exclusive-OR gate providing error signals input to a counter, whereby said counter accumulates a count representing the bit error ratio in said received optical signals, and said digital-to-analogue converters being controlled by processor means to determine decision threshold separations V 1 and V 2 in the eye that represent amplitude distortion components in said received optical signals.