Cascaded Optical Splitter with Variable Splitting Ratios

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical fiber communication networks face challenges in adapting to varying user requirements due to a lack of optical splitters with variable splitting ratios, making it difficult to achieve mobility and flexibility in terminal user access.

Innovation Solution

A cascaded optical splitter system is implemented, comprising multiple splitting units, including wavelength-sensitive and ordinary optical splitters, which allow for adjustable splitting ratios by regulating optical signals based on wavelengths or wavebands, enabling controllable and adaptable splitting ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed optical splitter is used in the ODN, then the network structure is simple and easy to implement, but the splitting ratio cannot be changed once selected, making it difficult to achieve adaptability to terminal user mobility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to terminal user mobilityVSAvoidoptical splitter system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static, fixed splitting ratio of traditional optical splitters into a dynamic, adjustable system. The optical splitter can now change its splitting ratio based on terminal user mobility requirements, allowing the network to adapt to varying user demands without requiring complete network reconfiguration. This dynamic capability enables the same optical access network to serve diverse user requirements efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the optical splitting function into multiple adjustable stages or configurations. Instead of a single fixed splitter, the system divides the splitting function across multiple controllable units, allowing independent adjustment of splitting ratios for different user groups or time periods. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation to terminal user mobility while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ODN is fixed to serve specific users, then the network configuration is stable, but it cannot accommodate diverse user requirements when terminal users move or when networks are integrated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork adaptability to diverse user requirementsVSAvoidnetwork configuration stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by enabling the optical splitter's key parameter (splitting ratio) to be dynamically adjusted. Instead of fixing the network configuration to specific users, the system can modify splitting ratios to accommodate diverse user requirements arising from terminal mobility or network integration. This parameter flexibility maintains network stability while enhancing adaptability to changing user demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If three networks (mobile communication, telecommunication, broadcast and television) are integrated into one optical access network, then resource utilization is improved, but user diversity increases and makes it difficult to meet varying user requirements with a fixed ODN

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to meet diverse user requirementsVSAvoidoptical splitter control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing an optical splitter that can serve multiple network types (mobile communication, telecommunication, broadcast and television) with a single device. The splitter's ability to dynamically adjust splitting ratios allows it to handle diverse user requirements from different network services uniformly, eliminating the need for separate fixed splitters for each network type and reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-functional requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3185442B1Method for implementing a cascaded optical splitter and cascaded optical splitter.
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 ZTE CORP
  • EP3185442B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3185442B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3185442B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A method for implementing a variable optical splitter and a variable optical splitter are provided. the method includes that: the variable optical splitter is divided into one or more virtual optical splitting units according to wavelengths/wavebands of optical signals, wherein the virtual optical splitting units and the wavelengths/wavebands are in a one-to-one correspondence, and moreover, the wavelengths/wavebands and splitting ratios are also in a one-to-one correspondence; and optical guiding or optical splitting is performed on the incident optical signals through the virtual optical splitting units. By adopting the technical solutions provided by the present disclosure, the technical problems that there is yet no optical splitter with a variable splitting ratio in the related technology and the like are solved, and controllability of the splitting ratios of the optical splitter is achieved.