Chirp managed laser fiber optic system including an adaptive receiver

1. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and

an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal, wherein the optical spectrum reshaper is adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a dispersion in a transmission fiber;

and further including a transmission fiber coupled to the optical source, a receiver and a decision circuit coupled to the transmission fiber,

wherein a voltage decision threshold of the receiver is adjusted so as to achieve a desired dispersion penalty;

wherein, additionally, a time decision threshold of the receiver is adjusted to achieve the desired dispersion penalty.

2. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and

an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal, wherein the optical spectrum reshaper is adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a dispersion in a transmission fiber;

and further including a transmission fiber coupled to the optical source, a receiver and a decision circuit coupled to the transmission fiber,

wherein the frequency profile and amplitude profile of the signal at the output of the transmitter, and a decision threshold of the receiver, are simultaneously adjusted so as to achieve a desired dispersion penalty at the receiver after the transmission fiber.

3. A fiber optic system comprising:

an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal;

an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal to a substantially amplitude modulated signal;

a transmission fiber for receiving the substantially amplitude modulated signal from the OSR and transport the same along a length;

a receiver for receiving the substantially amplitude modulated signal from the transmission fiber, the receiver comprising an optical-to-electrical converter and a decision circuit having a decision threshold voltage and a decision threshold time;

wherein the parameters of the optical signal source and the decision threshold of the receiver are simultaneously adjusted so as to provide the desired dispersion penalty after transmission through the fiber.

4. A method for transmitting an optical signal, comprising:

producing an optical frequency modulated signal;

passing the frequency modulated signal to an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) so as to convert the frequency modulated signal to a substantially amplitude modulated signal;

passing the substantially amplitude modulated signal through a fiber;

passing the substantially amplitude modulated signal to an optical-to-electrical converter so as to convert the substantially amplitude modulated signal from an optical form to a corresponding electrical form;

passing the corresponding electrical signal to a decision circuit adapted to detect a decision threshold voltage and a decision threshold time;

wherein the parameters of the optical frequency modulated signal, the decision threshold voltage and the decision threshold time are simultaneously adjusted so as to provide the desired dispersion penalty after transmission through the fiber.

5. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and

an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to convert the frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal, wherein the optical spectrum reshaper is adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a dispersion in a transmission fiber;

a transmission fiber coupled to the optical source; and

a receiver and a decision circuit coupled to the transmission fiber, the receiver operable to adjust a time decision threshold thereof to achieve a desired dispersion penalty.