Optical communication system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of optics, and provides an optical communication system and method, and the system comprises a light source which is used for generating an optical signal; the optical coupler is used for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium; an optical transmission medium. The optical signal generated by the light source is coupled into the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler, so that the optical communication system has higher adaptability and higher cost benefit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optics, and in particular to an optical communication system and method. Background Art

[0002] In optical communication systems, the transmission of light sources over long distances in multimode optical fibers may cause problems such as dispersion and inter-mode crosstalk, and the adaptability is low. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above problems, the present application proposes an optical communication system and method to improve the above problems.

[0004] To solve the above problems, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical communication system, the system comprising:

[0006] a light source for generating an optical signal;

[0007] an optical coupler for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium;

[0008] Optical transmission medium.

[0009] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a modulator:

[0010] It is used to modulate the optical signal transmitted by the optical coupler and output the modulated optical signal to the optical transmission medium.

[0011] In some embodiments, the modulated optical signal is a high-frequency optical signal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the light source is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

[0013] In some embodiments, the optical coupler is a lens.

[0014] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium is a single-mode optical fiber.

[0015] In some embodiments, the single-mode optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber that has been processed by a core expansion process.

[0016] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium is a waveguide.

[0017] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical communication method, the method comprising:

[0018] The light source is controlled to generate an optical signal, so that the optical signal is coupled into the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

[0020] When the optical signal is transmitted from the optical coupler to the modulator, an external control signal is input to the modulator so that the modulator modulates the optical signal, and the modulated optical signal is input into the optical transmission medium.

[0021] This application provides an optical communication system and method, comprising: a light source for generating an optical signal; an optical coupler for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium; and the optical transmission medium. This application couples the optical signal generated by the light source into the optical transmission medium via the optical coupler, making the optical communication system more adaptable and cost-effective. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a first schematic diagram of the optical communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the optical communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a flow chart of an optical communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of an optical communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of a computer-readable storage medium provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature identified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0030] An optical signal transmission system is a key device used to generate, modulate, and transmit optical signals. It is widely used in optical communications, optical sensing, and other optical applications. Optical signal transmission systems are an indispensable component of modern communications and sensing technologies. Their continuous development and innovation provide more efficient and reliable solutions for a variety of applications. The core components of an optical signal transmission system primarily include a light source, an optical coupler, and a modulator. The light source is responsible for generating the optical signal, the optical coupler is used to efficiently transmit the optical signal from the light source to the optical transmission medium, and the modulator plays a key role in converting the electrical signal into an optical signal and embedding the information. The collaborative operation of these three components determines the system's performance, transmission rate, and applicability.

[0031] There are several types of light sources in optical signal transmission systems. Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are suitable for high-speed communications, featuring single-mode emission and low energy consumption. They are commonly used for internal connections in data centers. Distributed Feedback Laser Diodes (DFB LDs) excel in long-distance communications due to their narrow spectral bandwidth and frequency stability. Electro-absorption Modulated Lasers (EMLs) integrate a modulator and laser source and are suitable for high-speed, high-density optical communications.

[0032] A VCSEL is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), whose operating principle is based on the creation of a semiconductor optical resonant cavity. VCSELs utilize a vertical cavity design, where two semiconductor mirrors sandwich an active region, forming a vertical optical cavity. VCSELs are typically excited by injecting current. This current, passing through the active region, causes stimulated emission of light from the semiconductor material, generating photons.

[0033] The VCSEL optical emission system uses a high-frequency signal current to drive the VCSEL light source, achieving efficient optical signal transmission. The high-frequency signal current supplied by an external power source is injected into the VCSEL, triggering electron transitions within the semiconductor material, generating laser photons of the corresponding frequency. These photons are amplified within the VCSEL's internal optical resonant cavity and ultimately emitted as optical signals through the VCSEL's surface.

[0034] The modulator is a core component of an optical signal transmission system. Its primary task is to convert electrical signals into optical signals and embed information within them. By adjusting the characteristics of the light source, the modulator modulates the optical signal. There are two main methods: direct modulation and external modulation. Direct modulation directly affects the intensity of light by varying the current of the light source (such as a laser diode), making it suitable for simple communications and sensing applications. External modulators, on the other hand, are independent of the light source and modulate the optical signal through an external electric field or other mechanism.

[0035] Optical coupling devices play the role of bridging different optical components in optical communication systems. They can guide optical signals from one waveguide or optical fiber to another waveguide or optical fiber while maintaining signal continuity.

[0036] In the existing technology, optical signal transmission systems based on VCSELs and multimode optical fibers driven by high-frequency signal currents have the advantages of narrow linewidth, low power consumption, high modulation rate, and high coupling efficiency in some application scenarios. They are particularly suitable for short-distance communications, such as internal connections in data centers.

[0037] However, this system also faces some limitations. Multimode optical fiber has multimode dispersion, that is, the propagation speed of light signals in different modes is different, which may limit the transmission distance. In addition, interference between different modes may cause signal distortion.

[0038] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a first schematic diagram of the optical communication system provided by the embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The optical communication system 1 in the embodiment includes a light source 10 , an optical coupler 20 and an optical transmission medium 30 .

[0039] The light source 10 is used to generate an optical signal.

[0040] The optical coupler 20 is used to couple the optical signal into the optical transmission medium 30 .

[0041] Optical transmission medium 30.

[0042] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium 30 is used to transmit the optical signal coupled by the optical coupler 20 .

[0043] In some embodiments, the light source 10 is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

[0044] Furthermore, the present application selects a continuous emission laser for the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, and optimizes the parameters to reduce the emission angle, so that the angle of the light beam emitted by the laser becomes more concentrated, which helps to improve the power efficiency and beam quality of the laser.

[0045] In some embodiments, the optical coupler is a lens.

[0046] Furthermore, through careful design, the lens designed for VCSEL should be able to achieve efficient optical focusing, precise output angle control, and low-loss optical transmission, ensuring effective energy transfer when the VCSEL is coupled to a single-mode optical fiber.

[0047] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium is a single-mode optical fiber.

[0048] Furthermore, the single-mode optical fiber is used to transmit the single-mode optical signal after lens coupling, and the optical fiber adopts ordinary single-mode optical fiber, which is more easily accepted by the application party and the market.

[0049] In some embodiments, the single-mode optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber that has been processed by a core expansion process.

[0050] Furthermore, the core expansion process can expand the core of a commonly used single-mode optical fiber with an MFD of 9 μm to a single-mode optical fiber with an end face MFD of about 20 μm by adjusting the process parameters.

[0051] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium is a waveguide.

[0052] The optical communication system 1 described above can use a VCSEL as the light source and single-mode fiber as the optical transmission medium. Unlike conventional VCSEL systems driven by high-frequency signal currents, this system achieves continuous and efficient transmission of high-frequency optical signals from a stable light source. This system not only offers reliability and stability, but is also suitable for communication and sensing applications that require high-frequency optical signals.

[0053] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the optical communication system provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 The optical communication system 2 in FIG. 1 includes a light source 40 , an optical coupler 50 , a modulator 60 and an optical transmission medium 70 .

[0054] A light source 40 for generating an optical signal;

[0055] an optical coupler 50 for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium 70;

[0056] The modulator 60 is used to modulate the optical signal transmitted by the optical coupler and output the modulated optical signal to the optical transmission medium 70 .

[0057] Optical transmission medium 70.

[0058] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium 70 is used to transmit the optical signal coupled by the optical coupler 50 .

[0059] In some embodiments, the light source 40 is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

[0060] Furthermore, the present application selects a continuous emission laser for the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, and optimizes the parameters to reduce the emission angle, so that the angle of the light beam emitted by the laser becomes more concentrated, which helps to improve the power efficiency and beam quality of the laser.

[0061] In some embodiments, the optical coupler is a lens.

[0062] Furthermore, through careful design, the lens designed for VCSEL should be able to achieve efficient optical focusing, precise output angle control, and low-loss optical transmission, ensuring effective energy transfer when the VCSEL is coupled to a single-mode optical fiber.

[0063] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium 70 is a single-mode optical fiber.

[0064] Furthermore, single-mode optical fiber is used to transmit the single-mode optical signal after lens coupling. The design and performance of the optical fiber match the system requirements to ensure minimal transmission loss and signal distortion.

[0065] In some embodiments, the single-mode optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber that has been processed by a core expansion process.

[0066] Furthermore, the core expansion process can expand the core of a commonly used single-mode optical fiber with an MFD of 9 μm to a single-mode optical fiber with an end face MFD of about 20 μm by adjusting the process parameters.

[0067] Exemplarily, the end surface MFD range is [15 um, 25 um], for example, 15 um, 20 um, or 25 um.

[0068] In some embodiments, the optical transmission medium is a waveguide.

[0069] In some embodiments, the modulator 60 modulates the optical signal using an external control signal to form a controllable optical signal that is output to a single-mode optical fiber.

[0070] The optical communication system 2 described above can use a VCSEL as a light source and a single-mode optical fiber as a transmission medium. Unlike traditional VCSEL systems driven by high-frequency signal currents, this system uses a VCSEL as a light source. A carefully designed optical coupler couples the optical signal into a single-mode optical fiber or waveguide. The optical signal then enters a modulator, generating a high-frequency optical signal that is then transmitted through the single-mode optical fiber.

[0071] The system integrates VCSEL light source, optical coupling device, modulator and single-mode optical fiber to achieve continuous and efficient transmission from stable light source to high-frequency optical signal. The system is not only reliable and stable, but also suitable for communication and sensing applications with high requirements for high-frequency optical signals.

[0072] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a flow chart of an optical communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 The optical communication method 100 includes: step 110.

[0073] Step 110: Control the light source to generate an optical signal, so that the optical signal is coupled into the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler.

[0074] In some implementations, the optical communication method 100 further includes the following steps.

[0075] When the optical signal is transmitted from the optical coupler to the modulator, an external control signal is input to the modulator so that the modulator modulates the optical signal, and the modulated optical signal is input into the optical transmission medium.

[0076] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the optical communication device 200 includes a control unit 210 .

[0077] The control unit 210 is configured to control the light source to generate an optical signal, so that the optical signal is coupled to the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler.

[0078] In some embodiments, the optical communication device 200 further includes: a modulation unit 220, which is used to input an external control signal to the modulator when the optical signal is transmitted from the optical coupler to the modulator so that the modulator modulates the optical signal, and input the modulated optical signal into the optical transmission medium.

[0079] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 As shown, the electronic device 300 includes: one or more processors 310 and a memory 320, Figure 5 A processor 310 is taken as an example.

[0080] In some embodiments, the processor 310 and the memory 320 may be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 5 The bus connection is taken as an example.

[0081] In some implementations, the processor 310 is configured to control the light source to generate an optical signal, so that the optical signal is coupled into the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler.

[0082] In some embodiments, memory 320, as a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-volatile software programs, non-volatile computer-executable programs, and modules, such as the program instructions / modules of the optical communication method in the embodiments of the present application. Processor 310 executes the non-volatile software programs, instructions, and modules stored in memory 320 to execute various functional applications and data processing of the electronic device, thereby implementing the optical communication method of the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0083] In some embodiments, the memory 320 may include a program storage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage area may store an operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the electronic device, etc. In addition, the memory 320 may include a high-speed random access memory and may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other non-volatile solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, the memory 320 may optionally include a memory remotely located relative to the processor 310, and these remote memories may be connected to the controller via a network. Examples of the above-mentioned network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.

[0084] In some embodiments, one or more modules are stored in the memory 320, and when executed by one or more processors 310, perform the optical communication method in any of the above method embodiments, for example, perform the above described Figure 3 Method step 110 in.

[0085] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 The computer-readable storage medium 400 stores program code 410, which can be called by a processor to execute the optical communication method described in the above method embodiment.

[0086] The computer-readable storage medium 400 can be an electronic memory such as a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EPROM, a hard disk, or a ROM. Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium 400 has storage space for program codes that execute any of the method steps in the above-described control method. These program codes can be read from or written to one or more computer program products. The program codes can be compressed, for example, in an appropriate form.

[0087] In summary, this application provides an optical communication system and method, comprising: a light source for generating an optical signal; an optical coupler for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium; and an optical transmission medium. This application utilizes an optical coupler to couple the optical signal generated by the light source into the optical transmission medium, making the optical communication system more adaptable and cost-effective.

[0088] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical communication system, characterized in that: The system comprises: a light source for generating an optical signal; an optical coupler for coupling the optical signal into an optical transmission medium; Optical transmission medium.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The system further comprises: A modulator is used to modulate the optical signal transmitted by the optical coupler and output the modulated optical signal to the optical transmission medium.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that The modulated optical signal is a high-frequency optical signal higher than 50 GHz.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The light source is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The optical coupler is a lens.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The optical transmission medium is a single-mode optical fiber.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The single-mode optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber that has been processed by a core expansion process.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The optical transmission medium is a waveguide.

9. An optical communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: The light source is controlled to generate an optical signal, so that the optical signal is coupled into the optical transmission medium through the optical coupler.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the optical signal is transmitted from the optical coupler to the modulator, an external control signal is input to the modulator so that the modulator modulates the optical signal, and the modulated optical signal is input into the optical transmission medium.

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