US Patent 9020353 Optical branching unit, optical communication system, and optical multiplexing method

An optical-branching unit enables suppression of deterioration of the transmission characteristic of a survivor signal without executing complex control of constant-power output. Optical-amplification means amplifies and supplies a input optical signal, and when not receiving the optical signal, amplifies and supplies amplified spontaneous emission that the optical-amplification means generates. Detection means detects whether the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. When the optical signal is not input to the optical-amplification means, control means sets gain that determines the magnitude of amplification in the optical-amplification means to a predetermined value greater than gain at the time the optical signal is input to the optical-amplification means. Add/drop-multiplexing means receives the output light from the optical-amplification means and other output light and multiplexes an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength in the output light from the optical-amplification means and an optical signal of a specific wavelength in the other output light.