Unique Optical Signal

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Overview Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University have developed a novel scheme for measurement of OSNR that does not require any prior knowledge of the signal or noise. Optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) is a key measure of the health of optical networks and will be a key parameter for future high speed and transparent optical networks. Our fiberized scheme overcomes limitations of previous interferometers in which the signal must be turned off to determine the noise value. Advantages The fiberized scheme uses interferometers to measure OSNR without the need to turn off the signal Measurements have been made on 10G NRZ OOK signals, 5G and 2G with no change in performance at the lower modulation rates Scheme has been shown to be immune to signal polarization, noise polarization and signal dispersion Measurement range from below 10 to 30 dB and accuracy of +/- 0.5dB. Development Stage A prototype of the monitor has been built and is available for testing will be ready for commercial development in under network conditions. Following further testing the system the near future. Principal Inventors Dr. W. H. Guo, Prof. J. F. Donegan, and Mr Edward Flood – all from the School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Patents A preliminary European Patent Application was filed in October 2009. Trinity College Ref: WG01-194-01