Method and system for improved eye protection safety of high output power lumped optical amplifiers

1. In an optical communication system, a lumped optical amplifier for enhancing eye-protection during amplifier operation comprising:

a. a gain stage for amplifying an optical WDM transmission signal within a predetermined wavelength band to create an amplified signal that exits an amplifier output port into an optical communication network span, wherein the amplified signal produces Raman amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) directed back into the amplifier from the span;

b. an out-of-band Raman ASS monitoring unit for continuously measuring an out-of band power level of the Raman ASS entering the amplifier from the span; and

c. a control unit configured for real time detection of a change in the out-of band Raman ASS power level and for performing an action selected from the group consisting of reducing the power of the amplified signal and shutting down the gain stage, in response to the real time detection.

2. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes:

i) a detection and analysis function to detect and analyze in real-time the change in out-of-band Raman ASS power level,

ii) an open span determining function to determine whether the change in out-of-band Raman ASS power level indicates an open span, and

iii) a safety function activated when the open span is determined, to effect the reduction in the power of the amplified signal or the shut-down of the gain stage.

3. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the out of band Raman ASS monitoring unit includes

i. a WDM coupler for selecting a specific wavelength range separate from the predetermined wavelength band, and

ii. a detector to monitor continuously energy within the specific wavelength range.

4. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the out of band Raman ASS monitoring unit includes:

i. a tap for directing a fraction of the total energy entering the output port from the transmission span,

ii. a filter for selecting a specific wavelength range for monitoring the Raman ASS separate from the predetermined wavelength band, and

iii. a detector for monitoring continuously energy within the selected wavelength range.

5. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is operative such that the time elapsed between the occurrence of the open span and the activation of the safety function is shorter than an eye-safe time.

6. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the control unit further includes an open span characteristics determining function, operative to determine the approximate position of an opening in the open span based on the magnitude of the change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level.

7. The lumped optical amplifier of claim of claim 6 , wherein the control unit further includes a span degradation function operative to detect degradation in the span before the degradation develops into the open span.

8. The lumped optical amplifier of claim of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined wavelength band is the C-band, and wherein the monitoring unit is designed to select a wavelength band from the wavelength range extending from a high wavelength end of the C-band toward higher wavelengths.

9. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 8 , wherein the specific wavelength band is selected from the group consisting of a 1570 nm to 1610 nm band and a 1600 nm to 1650 nm band.

10. In an optical communication system, a lumped optical amplifier for enhancing eye-protection during amplifier operation, comprising:

a. a gain stage for amplifying an optical WDM transmission signal within a predetermined wavelength band to create an amplified signal that exits the amplifier output port into an optical communication network span, wherein the amplified signal produces Raman amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) directed back into the amplifier from the span;

b. an out-of-band Raman ASS monitoring unit for continuously measuring an out-of-band power level of the Raman ASS entering the amplifier from the span;

c. an amplified signal monitoring unit for continuously measuring a power level of the amplified signal; and

d. a control unit configured for real time detection of a change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level and verification that this change is not associated with a change in the amplified signal level, and for performing an action selected from the group consisting of reducing the power of the amplified signal and shutting down the gain stage, in response to the real time detection.

11. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 10 , wherein the control unit includes:

i) a detection and analysis function to detect and analyze in real-time the change in out-of-band Raman ASS power level,

ii) an open span determining function to determine whether the change in out-of-band Raman ASS power level indicates an open span, and

iii) a safety function activated when the open span is determined, to effect the reduction in the power of the amplified signal or the shut-down of the gain stage.

12. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 11 , wherein the control unit farther includes an open span characteristics determining function, operative to determine the approximate position of the opening in the open span based on the magnitude of the change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level.

13. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 12 , wherein the control unit further includes a span degradation function operative to detect degradation in the span before the degradation develops into the open span.

14. The lumped optical amplifier of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined wavelength band is the C-band, and wherein the monitoring unit is designed to select a wavelength band from the wavelength range extending from a high wavelength end of the C-band toward higher wavelengths.

15. A method for enhancing eye-protection during a lumped optical amplifier operation in a communication system, comprising the steps of:

a. in the lumped optical amplifier, amplifying an input signal of a predetermined wavelength band into an amplified signal transmitted through an output port of the amplifier to a communication network span;

b. continuously monitoring an out-of-band power level of Raman ASS created by the amplified signal within the communication network span;

c. detecting in real-time when a change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level signifies an open span; and

d. responsive to a result of the real-time detecting, performing an action selected from the group of reducing the power of the amplified signal and shutting down a gain stage of the amplifier, thereby obtaining enhanced eye-safety.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of reducing the power of the amplified signal or shutting down a gain stage of the amplifier is effected faster than an eye-safe time.

17. The method of claim 15 , further including the step of determining an approximate position of an opening in the open span, based on a magnitude of the change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level.

18. In an optical communication system, a method for enhancing eye-protection during a lumped optical amplifier operation in a communication system, comprising the steps of:

a. in the lumped optical amplifier, obtaining an out-of-band Raman ASS power level related to an amplified signal transmitted through an output port of the amplifier to a communication network span;

b. monitoring the power level of the amplified signal and the out-of-band Raman ASS created by the amplified signal;

c. determining whether the Raman ASS power level has decreased by more than a value P 1 during a preceding time period Tl, and if yes;

d. determining whether the amplified signal level has changed by more than a value P 2 during a preceding time period T 2 , and if no;

e. performing an action to ensure that no safety hazard is caused due to an open span in the span connected to the output port of the amplifier.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of performing an action to ensure that no safety hazard occurs includes performing an action selected from the group consisting of shutting down a gain stage of the amplifier and reducing an amplified signal power to a safe level.

20. The method of claim 18 , further including the step of determining an approximate position of an opening in the open span, based on a magnitude of the change in the out-of-band Raman ASS power level.