Optical device, optical network unit and rate switching method

Abstract

The application discloses an optical device, an optical network unit and a rate switching method. The optical device comprises a common optical interface module, a plurality of optical transceiver modules and a light splitting element. The common optical interface module is used for accessing an external optical fiber. The plurality of optical transceiver modules support at least two different communication rates in a communication rate set. The light splitting element is used for simultaneously distributing optical signals of the common optical interface module to all the optical transceiver modules. Thus, the application sets the common optical interface module, the optical transceiver modules supporting multiple communication rates and the light splitting element, and simultaneously distributes the input optical signals to the optical transceiver modules by the light splitting element. The structural design enables a single optical device to be compatible with multiple communication rates. When the network is upgraded, only the optical transceiver module corresponding to the rate needs to be activated by software switching, without manually replacing the optical modem or optical device, thereby significantly reducing the labor cost and material cost of network upgrading, and greatly improving the upgrading efficiency and user experience.

Description

[0001] Divisional application This application is a divisional application. The parent application has the application number 202610483798.2 and the application date is April 14, 2026. The patent title is "Optical Device, Optical Network Unit and Rate Switching Method". Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to an optical device, an optical network unit, and a rate switching method. Background Technology

[0003] With the rapid development of fiber optic communication technology, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) has become the mainstream broadband access method. In optical network unit (ONU) applications, as user bandwidth demands continue to grow, the transmission rate of optical communication systems has evolved from 2.5G and 10G to even higher speeds. During existing optical network upgrades, it is typically necessary to replace the optical components in the optical modem (ONT) according to the new rate standard. However, existing optical components usually only support a single rate. When upgrading the network, operators must send professionals to replace the ONT or its internal optical modules, which not only leads to high labor costs but also wastes old equipment and reduces the efficiency of network upgrades. Therefore, designing an optical device that is compatible with multiple rates and requires no manual hardware replacement has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an optical device, an optical network unit, and a rate switching method, which can solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an optical device, including: A common optical interface module, which is used to connect to an external optical fiber; Multiple optical transceiver modules, wherein the set of communication rates supported by the multiple optical transceiver modules includes at least two different communication rates; and A beam splitter is used to simultaneously distribute the optical signal of the common optical interface module to all the optical transceiver modules. The plurality of optical transceiver modules include a first optical transceiver module and a second optical transceiver module. The communication rates of the first optical transceiver module and the second optical transceiver module are different. The common optical interface module, the first optical transceiver module, and the second optical transceiver module are connected sequentially via optical fibers. The transmission rate of the second optical transceiver module is greater than that of the first optical transceiver module. The optical signal coming from the common optical interface module is split into a first optical signal and a second optical signal after being processed by the splitting element. The first optical signal is transmitted to the first optical transceiver module and the second optical signal is transmitted to the second optical transceiver module. The beam splitting element includes a glass slide and a beam splitting film layer. The beam splitting film layer is disposed on the glass slide. The light signal coming from the common optical interface module is transmitted through the beam splitting film layer to form the first light signal, and the light signal coming from the common optical interface module is reflected through the beam splitting film layer to form the second light signal. The first optical transceiver module includes a housing and a glass tube, a collimating lens, a focusing lens, and a photodetector disposed within the housing. The beam splitter is disposed inside the housing, and the glass tube, the collimating lens, the beam splitter, the focusing lens, and the photodetector are arranged sequentially at intervals along the optical path direction of the first optical signal; The optical device further includes a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. One end of the first optical fiber is connected to the common optical interface module, and the other end of the first optical fiber is connected to the glass tube. One end of the second optical fiber is connected to the glass tube, and the other end of the second optical fiber is connected to the second optical transceiver module. Among them, multiple optical transceiver modules are configured to receive optical signals of the same wavelength; And / or, the beam splitter is a non-wavelength selective beam splitter, and the beam splitter has a fixed transmittance and reflectance at its operating wavelength.

[0006] In some embodiments, the photodetector is a TO packaged photodetector.

[0007] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an optical network unit, including a housing, a main circuit board, and an optical device according to any of the above embodiments, wherein the optical device is disposed inside the housing and electrically connected to the main circuit board.

[0008] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a rate switching method, applied to the optical device of any of the above embodiments, the method comprising: Responding to rate switching commands; The target optical transceiver module is determined from multiple optical transceiver modules based on the rate switching command; Control the target optical transceiver module to operate.

[0009] In some implementations, controlling the target optical transceiver module to operate includes: Pre-activate the target optical transceiver module; After detecting that the target optical transceiver module has completed initialization, control the target optical transceiver module to be in working state.

[0010] Based on the above embodiments, this application sets up a common optical interface module, optical transceiver modules supporting multiple communication rates, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter simultaneously distributes the input optical signal to each optical transceiver module. This structural design allows a single optical device to be compatible with multiple communication rates. When the network is upgraded, only the corresponding rate optical transceiver module needs to be activated by software switching, without the need for manual replacement of the optical modem or optical components. This significantly reduces the labor and material costs of network upgrades and greatly improves upgrade efficiency and user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the optical device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0013] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical device.

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of point P in the middle.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the rate switching method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0016] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Optical device; 100. Common optical interface module; 200. Optical transceiver module; 210. First optical transceiver module; 211. Housing; 212. Glass tube; 213. Collimating lens; 214. Focusing lens; 215. Photodetector; 220. Second optical transceiver module; 300. Beam splitter; 410. First optical fiber; 420. Second optical fiber; The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In the following description, when referring to the accompanying drawings, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0019] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] Please see Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment provides an optical device 10, which mainly includes a common optical interface module 100, multiple optical transceiver modules 200, and a beam splitter 300. This embodiment solves the problem in the prior art where optical devices only support a single rate, requiring hardware replacement for network upgrades, by integrating optical transceiver modules 200 supporting different communication rates into the same optical device 10 and utilizing the beam splitter 300 for optical signal distribution.

[0022] Specifically, the common optical interface module 100 serves as the sole physical optical interface for the optical device 10 to connect to external optical fibers. This common optical interface module 100 typically includes a fiber optic adapter or connector interface, enabling it to physically interface with the optical fiber introduced at the central office side, thereby receiving optical signals from upstream network equipment (such as an optical line terminal unit, OLT).

[0023] The optical device 10 also includes multiple optical transceiver modules 200. Unlike existing technologies where a single optical device can only process signals at a single rate, the multiple optical transceiver modules 200 in this embodiment support a set of communication rates including at least two different communication rates. Here, "set of communication rates" refers to the set of signal transmission rates that each optical transceiver module 200 can handle. For example, in one application scenario, the multiple optical transceiver modules 200 may include a first module supporting a 10Gbps rate and a second module supporting a 50Gbps rate; or, they may include modules supporting multiple rate combinations such as 2.5Gbps, 10Gbps, and 25Gbps. This design breaks the traditional one-to-one correspondence between optical device rates and interfaces, enabling a single optical device 10 to have multi-rate compatibility capabilities, providing a hardware foundation for smooth upgrades in the future.

[0024] The beam splitter 300 is disposed on the optical path between the common optical interface module 100 and multiple optical transceiver modules 200, and is used to simultaneously distribute the optical signal from the common optical interface module 100 to all optical transceiver modules 200. It is important to emphasize that the beam splitter 300 in this embodiment adopts a "simultaneous distribution" working mode. This means that when the optical signal enters from the common optical interface module 100, the beam splitter 300 replicates or splits the optical signal according to a specific optical power ratio and transmits it simultaneously to all optical transceiver modules 200. This "simultaneous distribution" differs from the "gating and switching" schemes in the prior art that use mechanical or electronic switches. In the switching and switching scheme, the optical path can only be connected to one target module at a time, resulting in problems such as mechanical wear and prolonged switching time; while the passive beam splitter 300 used in this embodiment can transmit the optical signal to each rate channel in real time and synchronously, and each optical transceiver module 200 can receive the optical power. Subsequently, the circuit side selects the signal of the corresponding rate for processing according to actual service requirements. This architecture not only has a fast response speed, but also significantly improves the reliability and stability of the optical device 10 because the beam splitter 300 is usually a passive device and does not require complex control circuitry to drive it.

[0025] Through the above structure, the optical device 10 of this embodiment realizes the core concept of "multi-rate integration". When the network is upgraded, there is no need to replace the internal hardware structure of the optical modem or optical device. Only the corresponding rate optical transceiver module 200 needs to be activated through software configuration, which greatly reduces the operation and maintenance cost.

[0026] This embodiment, based on the above embodiment, refines the specific number and optical path connection relationship of the optical transceiver modules 200. In this embodiment, the multiple optical transceiver modules 200 specifically include a first optical transceiver module 210 and a second optical transceiver module 220, with the communication rates of the first optical transceiver module 210 and the second optical transceiver module 220 being different. For example, the first optical transceiver module 210 can be configured to support a transmission rate of 10Gbps to be compatible with existing network standards; while the second optical transceiver module 220 can be configured to support a transmission rate of 50Gbps or higher to meet the needs of future network upgrades. This design of different rates enables a single optical device 10 to span different network generations, achieving "forward compatibility" at the hardware level.

[0027] In terms of optical path connection topology, this embodiment adopts a serial cascaded connection method. Specifically, the common optical interface module 100, the first optical transceiver module 210, and the second optical transceiver module 220 are sequentially connected via optical fibers. This "sequential connection" is not a simple physical arrangement, but refers to the chain-like transmission relationship of optical signals at the transmission medium level. From a physical structure perspective, the external optical fiber first connects to the common optical interface module 100, and then the optical signal is transmitted via the internal optical fiber link to the location of the first optical transceiver module 210, where it is split. The remaining optical signal or the split optical signal is then transmitted to the second optical transceiver module 220 via subsequent optical fibers. The advantage of this topology is that it simplifies the wiring complexity inside the optical device 10, making the optical path structure more compact and facilitating the miniaturization design of the device.

[0028] Furthermore, the optical signal from the common optical interface module 100 is split into a first optical signal and a second optical signal by the beam splitter 300. The first optical signal is transmitted to the first optical transceiver module 210, and the second optical signal is transmitted to the second optical transceiver module 220. It is important to emphasize that the first and second optical signals originate from the same incident light beam. While their optical power may differ (depending on the splitting ratio), their wavelength characteristics are generally consistent. The beam splitter 300, as the core node for optical path allocation, splits a beam of light into two, directing them to different processing channels. The first optical transceiver module 210 receives the first optical signal and performs photoelectric conversion, processing low-speed or specific services; the second optical transceiver module 220 receives the second optical signal and processes high-speed services. The two optical paths exist physically in parallel, but logically, one can be selectively activated according to instructions from the network side, thus achieving physical separation and flexible scheduling of the optical signal transmission paths.

[0029] In some embodiments, the beam-splitting element 300 includes a glass slide and a beam-splitting film layer, with the beam-splitting film layer disposed on the glass slide. Specifically, the glass slide is typically made of high-transmittance glass or quartz material, serving as the physical carrier of the beam-splitting film layer. It itself exhibits extremely low absorption loss of the optical signal, ensuring the intensity of the optical signal during transmission. The beam-splitting film layer is then attached to the surface of the glass slide using precision optical coating processes such as vacuum deposition or ion beam sputtering. This structural design, which directly integrates the beam-splitting film layer onto the glass slide, not only simplifies the components of the beam-splitting element 300 but also improves the integration density within the optical device 10, reducing the device size.

[0030] In terms of the optical path transmission principle, the optical signal entering from the common optical interface module 100 is transmitted through the beam splitter layer to form the first optical signal, and the optical signal entering from the common optical interface module 100 is reflected through the beam splitter layer to form the second optical signal. When the incident beam reaches the surface of the beam splitter layer, the light energy is physically divided into two parts: one part of the light energy penetrates the beam splitter layer and continues to propagate along the original optical path direction, thus forming transmitted light, i.e., the first optical signal, which is eventually transmitted to the first optical transceiver module 210 for photoelectric conversion processing; the other part of the light energy is reflected at the surface of the beam splitter layer, and the optical path direction changes (e.g., changes by 90 degrees), thus forming reflected light, i.e., the second optical signal, which is guided and transmitted to the second optical transceiver module 220. Through this physical mechanism of transmission and reflection, a single input optical signal is passively and synchronously distributed to two different optical path channels.

[0031] It is particularly important to emphasize that the beam-splitting film layer in this embodiment has fixed beam-splitting characteristics. The beam-splitting film layer has a fixed transmittance and reflectance at its operating wavelength. For example, the beam-splitting film layer can be designed with a 50:50 beam-splitting ratio, meaning that the transmitted light power and the reflected light power each account for 50% of the incident light power; or, depending on the link budget requirements of the actual system, it can be designed with other specific ratios such as 30:70 or 70:30. Once this beam-splitting ratio is solidified through the coating process, it cannot be changed and does not require any electronic control signal adjustment. This feature distinguishes the beam-splitting element 300 in this embodiment from the complex wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) filters in the prior art. WDM filters are typically highly sensitive to wavelength, only transmitting light of specific wavelengths while reflecting light of other wavelengths, and their beam-splitting effect depends on wavelength changes; while the beam-splitting element 300 in this embodiment is a non-wavelength selective beam-splitting element 300, whose beam-splitting behavior does not depend on the specific wavelength of the optical signal, but is based on a preset physical beam-splitting ratio. This means that regardless of whether the wavelength of the input optical signal is 1310nm or 1550nm, as long as it is within the operating bandwidth of the beam splitter 300, the beam splitter 300 can split the light at a fixed ratio. This non-wavelength selective design greatly simplifies the structural complexity of the optical device 10, reduces manufacturing costs, and enables the device to be compatible with signals of different rates at the same wavelength, providing a reliable physical basis for multi-rate integration.

[0032] In some embodiments, the first optical transceiver module 210 includes a housing 211 and a glass tube 212, a collimating lens 213, a focusing lens 214, and a photodetector 215 disposed within the housing 211. The housing 211, serving as the external support structure of the first optical transceiver module 210, is typically made of metal or high-strength plastic and functions to shield electromagnetic interference and protect internal precision optical components. The glass tube 212, collimating lens 213, beam splitter 300, focusing lens 214, and photodetector 215 are all encapsulated within the housing 211, forming an integrated optical receiving assembly.

[0033] In terms of optical path layout, the beam splitter 300 is disposed within the housing 211, and the glass tube 212, collimating lens 213, beam splitter 300, focusing lens 214, and photodetector 215 are arranged sequentially at intervals along the optical path direction of the first optical signal. This specific arrangement order is precisely calculated to maximize the transmission efficiency and coupling quality of the optical signal. Specifically, the glass tube 212 serves as the coupling interface for the optical fiber, through which the first optical fiber 410 passes to introduce the optical signal into the housing 211. Since the optical signal is divergent when emitted from the end face of the optical fiber, direct illumination of the beam splitter 300 or the detector would cause the light energy to disperse, reducing the system sensitivity. Therefore, in this embodiment, a collimating lens 213 is disposed after the glass tube 212. The collimating lens 213 utilizes its refractive properties to shape the divergent beam emitted from the optical fiber into a parallel beam. This parallel beam has a small divergence angle, which can be incident on the beam splitter 300 at the optimal angle, ensuring that the beam splitter film layer can stably transmit or reflect the optical signal and reduce the loss during the optical path transmission process.

[0034] The first optical signal, transmitted through the beam splitter 300, continues to propagate in a parallel state and is then incident on the focusing lens 214. The focusing lens 214 functions in the opposite way to the collimating lens 213; it converges the parallel beam into a tiny spot. This spot is precisely positioned corresponding to the photosensitive surface of the photodetector 215. Through the cooperation of the collimating lens 213 and the focusing lens 214, a highly efficient optical path system of "fiber-collimation-splitting-focusing-detector" is constructed, significantly improving the conversion efficiency from optical to electrical signals.

[0035] Furthermore, photodetector 215 is a TO-packaged photodetector. TO (Transistor Outline) packaging is a standardized transistor outline packaging technology with advantages such as small size, low cost, and good hermeticity. In this embodiment, the photodetector 215 chip is packaged within a TO socket and connected to external circuitry via metallized pins. The TO-packaged photodetector not only facilitates automated mounting and soldering within the housing 211 but also provides excellent heat dissipation channels, ensuring the thermal stability of the device under high-speed operation.

[0036] It is worth noting that in this embodiment, the beam splitter 300 is integrated inside the housing 211 of the first optical transceiver module 210. This structural design has significant technical advantages. In some existing technical solutions, the beam splitter is often placed as a separate device outside the optical transceiver module 200, which increases the complexity of the optical path connection, and the external optical path is easily affected by environmental factors such as dust and vibration. However, in this embodiment, by integrating the beam splitter 300 inside the housing 211, the optical signal completes the beam splitting and detection process in a closed clean space, which greatly improves the integration and environmental adaptability of the device, and ensures the stability and reliability of the optical device 10 during long-term operation.

[0037] In some embodiments, the optical device 10 further includes a first optical fiber 410 and a second optical fiber 420. These two optical fibers physically connect to form the backbone of optical signal transmission, enabling cascaded communication between the common optical interface module 100, the first optical transceiver module 210, and the second optical transceiver module 220.

[0038] Specifically, one end of the first optical fiber 410 is connected to the common optical interface module 100, and the other end is connected to the glass tube 212. External optical signals received by the common optical interface module 100 are first transmitted through the first optical fiber 410 to the glass tube 212 inside the first optical transceiver module 210. The glass tube 212 plays a crucial role as an optical path coupling and distribution node here. One end of the second optical fiber 420 is connected to the glass tube 212, and the other end is connected to the second optical transceiver module 220.

[0039] It is important to explain the function of the glass tube 212 as an optical fiber coupling carrier and the mechanism by which it achieves optical path separation. The glass tube 212 typically encapsulates an optical fiber bundle or lens assembly, and its structural design allows for a change in the optical signal path. In this embodiment, the first optical fiber 410 guides the incident optical signal into the glass tube 212. Inside the glass tube 212, the optical signal is shaped by the collimating lens 213 and then illuminates the beam splitter 300. The beam splitter 300 transmits a portion of the optical signal (the first optical signal) and guides it to the photodetector 215 of the first optical transceiver module 210 for photoelectric conversion; simultaneously, the beam splitter 300 reflects another portion of the optical signal (the second optical signal) back into the glass tube 212. This reflected optical signal, through the optical path guiding structure or coupling design inside the glass tube 212, is coupled into the input end of the second optical fiber 420, thereby achieving physical separation of the optical signal from "input" to "output (reflection branch)".

[0040] This connection topology has significant technical advantages. First, it cleverly isolates and connects the "transmission branch" and "reflection branch" of the optical signal through the physical node of the glass tube 212, allowing a single optical input interface to simultaneously drive two optical transceiver modules 200 with different rates. Second, this design avoids complex beam splitter wiring outside the optical device 10, integrating the optical path distribution function inside the device, greatly improving the device's integration and anti-interference capability. It should be understood that although this embodiment describes the structure of the first optical fiber 410 and the second optical fiber 420 respectively connected to the glass tube 212, in actual engineering implementation, the first optical fiber 410 and the second optical fiber 420 at the glass tube 212 end can be an integrally formed dual-core optical fiber, or two independent optical fibers fixed to different ports of the glass tube 212 by fusion splicing or bonding. As long as the function of optical signal input and output after splitting can be realized, it should fall within the protection scope of this embodiment.

[0041] In some embodiments, multiple optical transceiver modules 200 are configured to receive optical signals of the same wavelength; and / or, the beam splitter 300 is a non-wavelength selective beam splitter 300, which has a fixed transmittance and reflectance at its operating wavelength.

[0042] This embodiment proposes an innovative architecture that distinguishes signals based on "rate" rather than "wavelength". Multiple optical transceiver modules 200 in this embodiment are configured to receive optical signals of the same wavelength. For example, both the first optical transceiver module 210 and the second optical transceiver module 220 can be designed to receive optical signals with a wavelength of 1310nm. This means that regardless of the network upgrade rate, the wavelength of the optical signal transmitted from the central office can remain unchanged, thereby greatly simplifying the configuration requirements of the central office equipment and achieving cross-generational wavelength compatibility.

[0043] To support this "same wavelength, multiple rates" operating mode, the beam splitter 300 in this embodiment is specifically designed as a non-wavelength selective beam splitter 300. "Non-wavelength selective" means that the beam splitting behavior of the beam splitter 300 does not depend on the specific wavelength of the incident light. Its core lies in the physical characteristics of the beam splitting film: this film has a fixed transmittance and reflectance within its operating wavelength range (e.g., a wide band from 1260nm to 1620nm). For example, regardless of whether the incident light is 1310nm or 1550nm, the beam splitter 300 splits the light according to a preset 50:50 ratio or a specific proportion, unlike a WDM filter which transmits to specific wavelengths and reflects other wavelengths.

[0044] This design offers significant technological advantages. First, it breaks the limitation of "wavelength-determined channel" in traditional technology, allowing optical signals of the same wavelength to be simultaneously allocated to processing channels at different rates. Second, since the beam splitter 300 does not require precise filtering for specific wavelengths, its manufacturing process is simpler, its cost is lower, and it has a higher tolerance for changes in ambient temperature, preventing channel crosstalk due to temperature drift. Finally, this non-wavelength-selective characteristic provides a physical layer foundation for the "multi-rate integration" of this invention, enabling the optical device 10 to achieve a smooth evolution from low to high rates at extremely low hardware costs, without replacing optical cables or changing the central office wavelength configuration.

[0045] This embodiment provides an optical network unit (ONU), which is specifically manifested as an optical network terminal device at the user end, commonly known as an "optical modem". Referring to [reference to previous embodiments], the optical network unit mainly includes a housing, a main circuit board, and an optical device 10 as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0046] Specifically, the outer casing constitutes the physical protective boundary of the optical network unit, typically made of high-strength engineering plastics or metals, used to shield against external electromagnetic interference and protect internal precision components from environmental factors such as dust and moisture. The main circuit board, as the core control carrier of the optical network unit, is located inside the casing and integrates electronic components such as the main processor, memory, network interface chip, and power management module. The main processor is responsible for protocol processing, routing, and forwarding operations on the demodulated optical signal data.

[0047] In this embodiment, the optical device 10, as a key component for realizing the optical signal transmission and reception function, is housed within a casing and electrically connected to the main circuit board. In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the casing 211 of the optical device 10 is provided with several metal pins. These pins pass through pre-set through holes on the main circuit board and are fixedly connected to the pads on the back of the main circuit board via wave soldering, thereby achieving mechanical fixation and electrical conduction. This connection method is known as through-hole mounting (DIP) technology, which has the advantages of reliable connection and good vibration resistance, making it suitable for home network environments.

[0048] In another embodiment, the optical device 10 can also be directly attached to the surface of the main circuit board using surface mount technology (SMT). In this case, the bottom of the optical device 10 has planar electrode pads, which are fused to the pads on the main circuit board via a reflow soldering process. This method helps to reduce the overall size of the optical network unit and achieve a thinner and lighter product design.

[0049] Furthermore, the electrical connection between the optical device 10 and the main circuit board can also be achieved through a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or a connector. For example, a flexible printed circuit board extends from one end of the optical device 10, and a connector plug is provided at the end of the flexible printed circuit board, with a corresponding connector socket on the main circuit board. The detachable connection between the optical device 10 and the main circuit board is achieved through the mating of the plug and socket. This design facilitates the individual replacement or maintenance of the optical device 10, reducing maintenance costs.

[0050] Through the above structure, the optical device 10 converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the main processor on the main circuit board for processing via the aforementioned electrical connection path; conversely, the electrical signal emitted by the main processor is also transmitted to the optical device 10 via the same path, converted into an optical signal, and emitted. Since the optical device 10 integrates optical transceiver modules 200 supporting different communication rates, the optical network unit in this embodiment possesses multi-rate adaptive capabilities. When operators upgrade their networks, they only need to issue software commands to switch and activate the corresponding rate optical transceiver module 200, and the user's optical network unit can adapt to the new network rate without requiring the user to replace the entire device, greatly improving the user experience and reducing the operator's maintenance costs.

[0051] Please see Figure 4 This embodiment provides a rate switching method, which is applied to the optical device 10 in any of the above embodiments. This method achieves intelligent switching of communication rates by scheduling hardware resources through software logic. Please understand that this method is mainly executed by the main processor (or control chip) inside the optical network unit, and specifically includes the following steps: Step S100, in response to a rate switching command.

[0052] Specifically, rate switching instructions typically originate from central office equipment, such as the Optical Line Terminal (OLT). In scenarios involving network upgrades or service changes, the OLT sends rate adjustment instructions to the Optical Network Units (ONUs) at the user end via the optical transport network. This instruction can be carried in the Optical Network Unit Management and Control Interface (OMCI) protocol message or transmitted via Physical Layer Operation, Management and Maintenance (PLOAM) messages. The main processor parses the received optical signal, extracts the rate switching instruction, and triggers the subsequent switching process. For example, when an operator upgrades a user's bandwidth from 100Mbps to 500Mbps, the OLT sends an instruction requiring the ONU to switch its operating rate from 2.5G mode to 10G mode.

[0053] Step S200: Determine the target optical transceiver module from multiple optical transceiver modules 200 according to the rate switching command.

[0054] Upon receiving a rate switching command, the main processor needs to select the module that meets the target rate requirement from the multiple optical transceiver modules 200 integrated in the optical device 10. Since the optical device 10 of this invention integrates multiple optical transceiver modules 200 supporting different communication rate sets (e.g., the first optical transceiver module 210 supports 10G rate, and the second optical transceiver module 220 supports 50G rate), the main processor has a pre-stored mapping table between rates and modules. The main processor parses the target rate parameter (e.g., "50G") in the command and searches the mapping table to determine the optical transceiver module 200 that supports the target rate as the target optical transceiver module. This process realizes logical addressing of hardware resources, ensuring that the control command can accurately locate the corresponding physical device.

[0055] Step S300: Control the target optical transceiver module to operate.

[0056] After identifying the target optical transceiver module, the main processor sends an enable signal or configuration parameters to the target optical transceiver module via an internal circuit bus (such as an I2C bus, SPI bus, or GPIO interface). Specifically, the control process may include: turning on the power supply circuit of the target optical transceiver module, enabling it to enter the working state from a low-power standby state; or configuring the gain parameters of the transimpedance amplifier (TIA) or limiting amplifier (LA) inside the target optical transceiver module to adapt it to the signal reception sensitivity of the current rate.

[0057] It is important to emphasize that this embodiment embodies the intelligent characteristics of "hardware and software integration." At the hardware level, the beam splitter 300 simultaneously distributes the optical signal to all optical transceiver modules 200, meaning that the photodetectors 215 of all modules can receive the optical power. At the software level, the main processor selectively processes electrical signals of specific rates through the aforementioned steps. This design avoids the cumbersome manual plugging and unplugging of hardware required in traditional technologies, enabling remote and automated rate upgrades. Furthermore, since the optical signal is always present, the switching process only requires activating the corresponding circuit channel, resulting in extremely short switching delays and significantly improving user experience and network operation and maintenance efficiency.

[0058] In step S300, the target optical transceiver module is controlled to operate, which specifically includes the following sub-steps: Step S301: Pre-activate the target optical transceiver module.

[0059] Specifically, "pre-activation" refers to providing the target optical transceiver module with the necessary electrical conditions before the main processor officially switches the service data channel. Since the photodetector 215, transimpedance amplifier, and other active devices inside the optical transceiver module 200 cannot immediately respond to optical signals when powered off or in sleep mode, a direct switch would require a setup time for the devices to stabilize after power-on, leading to a brief interruption in the communication link. Therefore, in this embodiment, the main processor first connects the power supply circuit of the target optical transceiver module by controlling the power management chip or switching circuit, enabling its internal circuitry to start operating. Simultaneously, the main processor can also send a bias current loading command to the target optical transceiver module, biasing the laser or detector near its optimal operating point. This process is equivalent to a "warm-up" action, ensuring the hardware of the target optical transceiver module is in a readily available hot standby state, thereby significantly reducing subsequent response latency.

[0060] Step S302: After detecting that the target optical transceiver module has completed initialization, control the target optical transceiver module to be in working state.

[0061] After pre-activation, the main processor does not immediately switch services but continuously monitors the status feedback of the target optical transceiver module. The criteria for "initialization complete" typically include signal synchronization and link lock status. Specifically, after receiving the optical signal allocated by the splitter 300, the target optical transceiver module's internal Clock Data Recovery (CDR) circuit attempts to extract the clock signal from the optical signal and achieve bit synchronization. When the main processor reads that the "Lost Signal (LOS)" flag in the target optical transceiver module's register is cleared, or the "Lock Detection" flag is set, it determines that the target optical transceiver module has completed initialization, indicating that the module has successfully captured and tracked the input optical signal and is capable of transmitting data.

[0062] Only then can the main processor actually execute the channel switching operation, transferring data services to the target optical transceiver module and controlling it to be in normal working condition. The key technical effect of this design lies in realizing a smooth "build-before-disconnect" switching mechanism. Before the target optical transceiver module completes initialization, the original low-speed optical transceiver module 200 remains in working condition, continuously transmitting service data, ensuring the continuity of user services. Only when the new high-speed channel is confirmed to be ready can the system switch over, thus completely avoiding the service packet loss or disconnection problems caused by hardware startup delays in traditional switching methods, greatly improving the user experience during network upgrades.

[0063] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this application. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0064] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An optical device, characterized in that, include: A common optical interface module, which is used to connect to an external optical fiber; Multiple optical transceiver modules, wherein the set of communication rates supported by the multiple optical transceiver modules includes at least two different communication rates; and A beam splitter is used to simultaneously distribute the optical signal of the common optical interface module to all the optical transceiver modules. The plurality of optical transceiver modules include a first optical transceiver module and a second optical transceiver module. The communication rates of the first optical transceiver module and the second optical transceiver module are different. The common optical interface module, the first optical transceiver module, and the second optical transceiver module are connected sequentially via optical fibers. The transmission rate of the second optical transceiver module is greater than that of the first optical transceiver module. The optical signal coming from the common optical interface module is split into a first optical signal and a second optical signal after being processed by the splitting element. The first optical signal is transmitted to the first optical transceiver module and the second optical signal is transmitted to the second optical transceiver module. The beam splitting element includes a glass slide and a beam splitting film layer. The beam splitting film layer is disposed on the glass slide. The light signal coming from the common optical interface module is transmitted through the beam splitting film layer to form the first light signal, and the light signal coming from the common optical interface module is reflected through the beam splitting film layer to form the second light signal. The first optical transceiver module includes a housing and a glass tube, a collimating lens, a focusing lens, and a photodetector disposed within the housing. The beam splitter is disposed inside the housing, and the glass tube, the collimating lens, the beam splitter, the focusing lens, and the photodetector are arranged sequentially at intervals along the optical path direction of the first optical signal; The optical device further includes a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. One end of the first optical fiber is connected to the common optical interface module, and the other end of the first optical fiber is connected to the glass tube. One end of the second optical fiber is connected to the glass tube, and the other end of the second optical fiber is connected to the second optical transceiver module. Among them, multiple optical transceiver modules are configured to receive optical signals of the same wavelength; And / or, the beam splitter is a non-wavelength selective beam splitter, and the beam splitter has a fixed transmittance and reflectance at its operating wavelength.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The photodetector is a T0 packaged photodetector.

3. An optical network unit, characterized in that, It includes a housing, a main circuit board, and an optical device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical device is disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the main circuit board.

4. A rate switching method, characterized in that, The method, applied to the optical device of claim 1 or 2, comprises: Responding to rate switching commands; The target optical transceiver module is determined from among the plurality of optical transceiver modules according to the rate switching command; Control the target optical transceiver module to operate.

5. The rate switching method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Controlling the target optical transceiver module to operate includes: The target optical transceiver module is pre-activated; After detecting that the target optical transceiver module has completed initialization, the target optical transceiver module is controlled to be in working state.

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