Dual-Output Coherent Transceiver Link Budget
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pluggable coherent optical technologies face challenges in link budget, cost-effectiveness, and power dissipation when handling high bandwidth throughputs, particularly in 1+1 protected applications and point-to-multi-point networks, due to the need for redundant signal transmission and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-input receiver and dual-output transmitter architecture using polarization beam splitters and Mach-Zehnder Modulators, which doubles the coherent transceiver output power by 3 dB without requiring additional 3 dB couplers, allowing for independent signal processing and reduced component count, thereby improving link budgets and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant signal transmission is used for 1+1 protected applications, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of handling primary and protected signals into a single coherent transceiver unit. By integrating dual-input reception and dual-output transmission capabilities within one module, the system achieves 1+1 protection without requiring separate transceivers for each signal path, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coherent transceiver is designed with multi-functionality to handle both primary and protected signals through the same hardware components. The dual-input receiver and dual-output transmitter enable the single module to perform multiple functions (receiving and transmitting both primary and protected signals), eliminating the need for additional dedicated hardware and reducing power consumption.
2Productivity
If high bandwidth throughput is implemented, then productivity is improved, but power dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes coherent detection parameters (amplitude and phase modulation) to achieve high bandwidth throughput. By changing from intensity modulation to coherent amplitude and phase modulation, the system can transmit more information per symbol period, increasing productivity without proportionally increasing power dissipation.
3Power
If additional optical components are added to increase output power, then power is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal combining function into the coherent detection process itself. By using the coherent receiver's ability to combine signals through phase and amplitude detection, the system achieves increased effective output power without adding separate optical combiners or additional active components, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the supported link loss by up to 6 dB and reduces the number of optical components required, enabling higher bandwidth applications like 400 Gb/s or 800 Gb/s while maintaining similar transmitter and receiver complexity, thus addressing the constraints of power consumption and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a first polarization beam splitter configured to receive a first signal; and a second polarization beam splitter configured to receive a second signal
Implementation Method 2
the transmitted signal is interfered with using a local oscillator (LO) that provides for extraction of phase information and is thus referred to as a coherent receiver
Implementation Method 3
coherent optical communications technology typically involves modulating the amplitude and phase of light
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed technology allows for 1+1 optical protection and may improve coherent module output optical power by 3 dB over similar transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) implementation complexity, as well as allow for integration into existing datacenter formats.