Fiber Amplifier

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A device made from optical fiber and a pump laser that is

designed to produce stimulated emission of photons at the
signal wavelength leading to an amplified signal. There are
two major types of fiber amplifiers: Raman amplifiers and
doped fiber amplifi
Amplifier
An amplifier converts an input signal (usually low level) into
a larger version of itself. An amplifier device provides this
conversion process. Amplifiers increase both the desired
signal and unwanted noise signals. Noise signals are any
random disturban
Class AB
An amplifier that is operating in class AB. Class AB
Amplifier
amplifiers can amplify between 180 degrees to 360 degrees of
the input signal (somewhat non-linear).
Class C
An amplifier that is operating in class C. Class C amplifiers
Amplifier
can amplify a signal for less than 180 degrees of its input
cycle (non-linear amplification for a majority of portions of
the input signal).
Class B
An amplifier that is operating in class B. Class B amplifiers
Amplifier
can amplify a signal for 180 degrees of its input cycle (nonlinear amplification for particular portions of the input signal).
Amplified
A handset (microphone and speaker) that contains an
Handset
integrated (built-in) amplifier. Amplified handsets may be
used by the hearing impaired.
Video Amplifier An amplifier designed to operate over the band of frequencies
used for TV signals.
Variable Gain
An amplifier whose gain can be controlled by an external
Amplifier
signal source.
Tuned Radio
An amplifier that operates at a specific (tuned) radio
Frequency
frequency.
Amplifier
Phototransistor A transistor that detects light energy and amplifies the
resulting electrical signal. Light falling on the base-collector
junction generates a current which is amplified internally.
Praseodymium A device used to amplify signals across a broad range of
Doped Fiber
wavelengths in an optical network. This device is very similar
Amplifier
to the Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA). Praseodymium
(PDFA)
doping causes the metastable electrons to have the right
energy to enable st
Low Noise
A sensitive pre-amplifier used at a focal point (the feedhorn)
Amplifier (LNA) of a satellite antenna to strengthen the weak satellite signal.
The most important parameter of the LNA is its noise
temperature as described in degrees Kelvin. In general the
lower the noi
Magnetic
An amplifier that uses magnetic fields to amplify signals.

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Amplifier
Headend Driver An amplifier that is used in a cable television network to
Amplifier
increase the level of the RF signal for supply to the
distribution network.
External RF
An assembly or number of electronic parts that can be
Power Amplifier attached to a transmitter as an external RF power amplifier
Kit
even if additional parts are required to complete assembly.
Degeneration
(1-recording) The loss of quality on a videotape typically
resulting from multiple generations of copying the material.
(2-amplifier circuit) The process of reducing the gain of an
amplifier stage by applying negative feedback (feedback that
is 9O degree
Common Mode The amplitude of the common mode signal that can be applied
Range
to the two differential inputs of an amplifier and maintain its
performance. (See also: differential amplifier.)
Current
A low output impedance amplifier capable of providing high
Amplifier
current output.
Class A
An amplifier that is operating in class A (fully linear).
Amplifier
Optical
A means of amplifying an optical signal through the sensing
Amplifier (OA) of energy at particular optical wavelengths and adding optical
energy at the same wavelength so the resultant signal is a
replica of the input signal at higher (amplified) energy level.
The most
Pump Laser
A laser used to prime a fiber amplifier so that stimulated
emission can take place. The laser pumps the energy of
electrons in the fiber up to a high energy state called the pump
state. They then decay to the metastable state where they can
interact with
Klystrode
An amplifier device for UHF-TV signals that combines
aspects of a tetrode (grid modulation) with a klystron (velocity
modulation of an electron beam). The result is a more efficient
less expensive device for many applications. Klystrode is a
trademark of
Isophasing
A timing device that corrects for small timing errors.
Amplifier
Erbium Doped A device used to amplify signals across a broad range of
Fiber Amplifier wavelengths in an optical network. The ability to amplify
(EDFA)
more than one wavelength at a time made Wavelength
Division Multiplexing (WDM) practical. EDFAs are used to
boost signals at the transmitt
External RF
A device that is capable of increasing power output when used
Power Amplifier in conjunction with but not an integral part of a transmitter.

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Doped Fiber
A device used to amplify signals across a broad range of
Amplifier (DFA) wavelengths in an optical network. The ability to amplify
more than one wavelength at a time made Wavelength
Division Multiplexing (WDM) practical. A DFA consists of a
pump laser a length of doped
Amplitude
The last amplifier stage in a transmitter where the assembly
Modulator Stage (stage) modulates a radio-frequency signal.
Active Hub
A device that amplifies transmission signals in a network
allowing signals to be sent over a much greater distance than
is possible with a passive hub. An active hub may have ports
for coaxial twisted-pair or fiber-optic cable connections as
well as
Amplifier
An indicator of distortion that is caused by inconsistent
Nonliearity
amplification (higher or lower gain to different levels or
frequencies of input signals) of a device or system.
Television
A ground station used for the reception of TV signals
Receive Only
transmitted from satellites. A typical station consists of a
(TVRO)
parabolic dish antenna pre-amplifier down-converter tunable
receiver and video monitor.
Sound Analyzer An instrument consisting of a microphone amplifier and wave
analyzer used to measure the amplitude and frequency of the
components of a complex sound.
Slew Rate
The maximum rate of change of the output voltage of an
amplifier operated within its linear region.
Regenerative
A repeater that receives amplifies reshapes and retransmits
Repeater
digital signals.
Optical Repeater A network element that receives and retransmits optical
signals after enhancing or regenerating the signal. Optical
Repeaters can be all-optical if the signal only needs to be
amplified. For more sophisticated regeneration the optical
signal is convert
Noise Figure
A measure of the noise in decibels generated at the input of an
amplifier compared with the noise generated by an impedance
method resistor at a specified temperature.
Multivibrator
(1-general) A relaxation oscillator with the outputs from each
of two amplifying stages fed back in phase to the input stage
of the other amplifier to produce oscillation. (2-free-running)
A multivibrator that operates without external triggering or s
Modulation
Intermodulation distortion in an analog amplifier or modulator
Noise
whose level varies as the input power changes or from other
distortions.
Common Mode Signals identical with respect to amplitude frequency and
phase that are applied to both terminals of a cable and/or both
the input and reference of an amplifier.

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Common Mode A measure of how well a differential amplifier rejects a signal

Rejection (CMR) that appears simultaneously and in phase at both input
terminals. As a specification CMR usually is stated as a
decibel ratio at a given frequency.
Cell Extender
A cellular system repeater that re-transmits base station
channels. A cell extender could be considered nothing more
than a linear amplifier.
Unbalanced
A condition of circuits or lines in which the impedance of one
side of the terminal differs from that of the other side of the
same terminal. Examples include a cable pair in which the
impedance of the ring and tip differ and an amplifier in which
one of
Repeater
(1-general) A device or circuit that is located between
transmitting and receiving devices to improve the quality the
signal that is delivered between them. A repeater obtains some
or all of the signal from the transmitter amplifies and may
adjust (chang
Pump
The energy source used to drive electrons up to a high energy
state called the pump level. From the pump level the electrons
lose energy and reach the metastable state needed for
stimulated emission. Lasers and fiber amplifiers must be
pumped before sti
Negative
The return (feedback) of an output signal that subtracts (adds
Feedback
180 degrees out of phase.) from the output signal. Negative
feedback decreases the output signal amplitude and usually
stabilizes the amplifier. This may result in reduced distortion
and noise
Load
(1-general) The work required of an electrical or mechanical
system. (2-data) The process of inputting programs or data to
a computer for storage or manipulation. (3-device output) A
circuit or device that receives the output of an amplifier or
transmis
Analog Signal
Analog signal processing involves the conversion of analog
Processing
signals into another form using analog (continuous) circuits or
systems. Analog signal processing includes filters shaping
circuits combiners and amplifiers to change their shape and
modify th