Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
Device and Method for Processing an Optical Signal

Abstract:

Device (200,300) and method (500) for processing an optical signal. The device (200,300) comprises a photonic device (202,302) arranged between a first input/output (204,304) and a second input/output (206,306) and optically communicating with the inputs/outputs by a signal path (208,308) for transmission of an optical signal in a first or second direction between the first input/output (204,304) and the second input/output (206,306). The device (200,300) comprises an optical gain element (210,310) for amplifying the optical signal. The device (200,300) comprises a path switching circuit (212,312) comprising a first signal amplification path (214,314) connectable between the first input/output (204,304) and the photonic device (202,302) for optically coupling the signal path (208,308) to and from the optical gain element (210,310), and a second signal amplification path (216,316) connectable between the photonic device (202,302) and the second input/output (206,306) for optically coupling the signal path (208,308) to and from the optical gain element (210,310). The path switching circuit (212,312) is arranged to selectively connect the first signal amplification path (214,314) or the second signal amplification path (216,316) into the signal path (208,308).