Electronic Dispersion Compensator Tuning via Simulated Bit Error Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic dispersion compensators (EDCs) in optical receivers lack the ability to tune their operation to reduce bit error rate (BER) without receiving actual BER information, leading to suboptimal signal decoding.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that calculates a simulated bit error rate (BER) by adjusting signal conditioning parameters and sampling parameters using algorithms like the Nelder-Mead method, allowing for optimization of gain, bias, and offset time to minimize BER without explicit BER feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the EDC operates without actual BER information, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of signal decoding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simulated BER that copies the essential characteristics of the actual BER without requiring direct BER measurement. The simulated BER is calculated based on statistical properties of the received signal and channel model, providing a proxy metric that enables tuning without actual BER feedback, thus reducing complexity while maintaining decoding precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for tuning from actual BER to simulated BER. By transforming the tuning metric into a form that can be calculated from available signal parameters (without requiring error feedback), the system maintains optimal decoding performance while simplifying the operational complexity
2Reliability
If signal conditioning parameters are optimized using simulated BER, then the reliability of signal decoding is improved, but the use of energy increases due to iterative parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial optimization by adjusting signal conditioning parameters iteratively until the simulated BER converges to an acceptable level, rather than continuously optimizing. This partial action approach achieves sufficient reliability while limiting the energy expenditure associated with parameter adjustment iterations
3Manufacturing precision
If the channel model is continuously updated to improve decoding accuracy, then the manufacturing precision of signal decoding is improved, but the loss of time increases due to repeated model updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic model updates rather than continuous updates. The channel model is updated at specific intervals or when certain conditions are met, balancing the need for accurate decoding with the time cost of model updates. This periodic approach maintains decoding precision while reducing the time loss associated with frequent updates
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is disclosed for controlling signal conditioning parameters and a sampling parameter controlling conversion of a received signal to digital sampled values prior to decoding. The sampled values are decoded according to a comparison with expected values calculated according to a model of a transmission channel. The model is also updated from time to time by comparing the expected values with actual sampled values. Variation of the expected values over time is calculated. One or more of the signal conditioning parameters and the sampling parameter are adjusted according to a numerical minimization method such that the system BER is reduced.