Control concept for a multistage polarization mode dispersion compensator
View Patent ↗An apparatus is provided for compensating for polarization mode dispersion which is caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide, to an optical communication network having such an apparatus, and a method for compensating for polarization mode dispersion which is caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide is also provided. The apparatus has at least one first and one second polarization mode dispersion compensation device, and a control device which controls at least the first polarization mode dispersion compensation device, with the light wave being supplied first of all to the first compensation device, which at least partially carries out polarization mode dispersion compensation on the supplied light wave, and with the light wave which is emitted from the first compensation device then being supplied to the second compensation device, which carries out further polarization mode dispersion compensation on the light wave, wherein the apparatus has a PMD detection device, which provides information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device, and the first compensation device is controlled by the control device using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device.
1. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide, comprising:
at least one first polarization mode dispersion compensation device, wherein the light wave is first supplied to the first compensation device which, in turn, at least partially carries out polarization mode dispersion compensation on the supplied light wave;
at least one second polarization mode dispersion compensation device, wherein a light wave which is emitted from the first compensation device is supplied to the second compensation device which, in turn, carries out further polarization mode dispersion compensation on the light wave;
a control device for controlling at least the first polarization mode dispersion compensation device;
a first polarization mode dispersion detection device for providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device before supplying the light wave to a second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device, wherein
a second polarization mode dispersion detection device provides information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device, and wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device; and
a third polarization mode dispersion detection device for providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of a light wave that is emitted from the second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the second compensation device.
2. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device contains information relating to higher-order polarization mode dispersion.
3. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device so as to optimize compensation for higher-order polarization mode dispersion.
4. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second compensation device is controlled using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device.
5. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second compensation device is additionally controlled using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the second compensation device.
6. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second compensation device is controlled such that it substantially compensates for first-order polarization mode dispersion.
7. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the information used to control the second compensation device contains information relating to the first-order polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from at least one of the first compensation device and the second compensation device.
8. An apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the information used to control the second compensation device does not contain any information relating to higher-order polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from at least one of the first compensation device and the second compensation device.
9. An optical communication network, comprising:
at least one optical waveguide; and
an apparatus that compensates for polarization mode dispersion caused during transmission of a light wave via the at least one optical wave guide, the apparatus including at least a first and a second polarization mode dispersion compensation device;
a control device for controlling at least the first polarization mode dispersion compensation device, with the light wave first being supplied to the first compensation device which, in turn, at least partially carries out polarization mode dispersion compensation on the supplied light wave, and with a light wave which is emitted from the first compensation device then being supplied to the second compensation device which, in turn, carries out further polarization mode dispersion compensation on the light wave; and
a polarization mode dispersion detection device for providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device, with the first compensation device being controlled by the control device using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device and providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of a light wave that is emitted from the second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the second compensation device.
10. A method for compensating for polarization mode dispersion caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide, comprising:
supplying a light wave to a first polarization mode dispersion compensation device which, in turn, at least partially carries out polarization mode dispersion compensation on the supplied light wave;
supplying a light wave emitted from the first compensation device to a second polarization mode dispersion compensation device which, in turn, carries out further polarization mode dispersion compensation on the light wave;
controlling at least the first polarization mode dispersion compensation device via a control device;
providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the first compensation device via a first polarization mode dispersion detection device before supplying the light wave to a second compensation device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave that is emitted from the first compensation device;
providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device via a second polarization mode dispersion detection device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave supplied to the first compensation device; and
providing information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of a light wave that is emitted from the second compensation device via a third polarization mode dispersion detection device, wherein the first compensation device is controlled by the control device additionally using the information relating to the polarization mode dispersion of the light wave emitted from the second compensation device.