Optical signal quality monitor using direct Q-factor measurement

In photonic networks, different types of signal formats such as synchronous digital hierarchy, plesiochronous digital hierarchy, and synchronous optical network are included. Therefore, an optical signal-quality monitoring scheme that is independent of the signal format is indispensable. This letter proposes a novel scheme to accomplish this. This method derives the standard deviation and the mean value of the marks/spaces rail of an eye pattern, and calculates the Q-factor. Computer simulation results confirm the applicability of the new technique.