Linecards with pluggable interfaces for pluggable optical amplifiers and other pluggable devices
View Patent ↗A linecard includes at least one pluggable device, a linecard processor, and a centralized host processor. The linecard also includes an interface that supports a pluggable device. A pluggable device is electrically coupled to the interface and is controlled by the centralized host processor. A flash memory stores data for the pluggable device. The pluggable device can include at least one of an optical amplifier and a ROADM pluggable device.
1. A linecard comprising:
a) a linecard processor;
b) a centralized host processor;
c) a plurality of pluggable interfaces; each of the plurality of pluggable interfaces electrically coupled to the centralized host processor;
d) a plurality of pluggable devices, each of the plurality of pluggable devices being electrically coupled to one of the plurality of pluggable interfaces, wherein at least one of the plurality of pluggable devices comprises a pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprising a drive circuit and a digital-to-analog converter that converts digital signals which instruct the drive circuit to control a gain and a power of an EDFA, wherein each of the plurality of pluggable devices is controlled by the centralized host processor; and
e) a flash memory that stores calibration data for the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device.
2. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the linecard processor and the centralized host processor comprise a single processor unit.
3. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the centralized host processor comprises an FPGA.
4. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the centralized host processor comprises a microprocessor.
5. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the centralized host processor comprises both a microprocessor and a FPGA.
6. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the centralized host processor comprises the flash memory.
7. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises the flash memory.
8. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the interface that supports a pluggable device comprises an industry standard interface.
9. The linecard of claim 8 wherein the industry standard interface is selected from the group consisting of CFP, CFP2, CFP4, and XFP.
10. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the interface that supports a pluggable device comprises proprietary interface.
11. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the interface that supports a pluggable device comprises a plurality of different interfaces.
12. A linecard comprising:
a) a linecard processor;
b) a centralized host processor;
c) a plurality of pluggable interfaces, each of the plurality of pluggable interfaces electrically coupled to the centralized host processor;
d) a plurality of pluggable devices, each of the plurality of pluggable devices being electrically coupled to one of the plurality of pluggable interfaces, wherein at least one of the plurality of pluggable devices comprises a pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device, and wherein each of the plurality of pluggable devices are being controlled by the centralized host processor;
e) at least one optical detector positioned within the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprising an EDFA, the at least one optical detector detecting optical power at the output of the EDFA and generating signals that control at least one of a gain and a power of the EDFA; and
f) a flash memory that stores calibration data for the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device.
13. The linecard of claim 12 wherein the centralized host processor comprises the flash memory.
14. The linecard of claim 12 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises the flash memory.
15. The linecard of claim 12 further comprising a pluggable device comprising a ROADM device that is electrically coupled to the interface, the ROADM device being controlled by the centralized pluggable host processor.
16. The linecard of claim 12 wherein the linecard processor and the centralized host processor comprise a single processor unit.
17. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the linecard comprises a ROADM.
18. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device being controlled by the centralized host processor is EDFA gain controlled.
19. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device being controlled by the centralized host processor is EDFA power controlled.
20. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device being controlled by the centralized host processor is fast transient response controlled.
21. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises microbend radius fiber.
22. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises an optical pump that generates gain.
23. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises at least one of an optical detector that is positioned to detect optical power at an input of the pluggable EDFA and an optical detector that is positioned to detect optical power at an output of the pluggable EDFA, wherein the at least one optical detector generates signals that control a gain of the pluggable EDFA.
24. The linecard of claim 1 wherein the pluggable EDFA optical amplifier device comprises at least one of an optical detector that is positioned to detect optical power at an input of the pluggable EDFA and an optical detector that is positioned to detect optical power at an output of the pluggable EDFA, wherein the at least one optical detector generates signals that control a power of the pluggable EDFA.
25. The linecard of claim 11 wherein the plurality of pluggable devices comprises at least one ROADM device.