Injection Locked Transmitter for Optical Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fiber communication networks face challenges in achieving high data rates and efficient fiber utilization due to limitations in receiver sensitivity, complexity, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in access networks, where conventional coherent transceivers are not economically feasible for point-to-multipoint applications and legacy fiber environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an injection locked transmitter system using a master seed laser and slave lasers, combined with an optical frequency comb generator to produce phase synchronized coherent tone pairs, enabling efficient downstream and upstream data transmission with reduced complexity and cost by reusing optical sources throughout the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coherent technology is used to increase receiver sensitivity and capacity, then receiver sensitivity and power budget are improved, but system complexity increases significantly due to elaborate post-processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a master laser source to generate multiple optical frequency combs that are distributed to multiple transceivers. Each transceiver copies the same master laser signal, eliminating the need for complex local oscillators and carrier recovery circuits at each node. This copying approach maintains high receiver sensitivity while dramatically reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The master laser source serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the optical carrier for modulation, generates the local oscillator signal for coherent detection, and enables wavelength division multiplexing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components at each transceiver, reducing complexity while maintaining performance.
2Productivity
If conventional coherent transceivers are deployed in access networks, then data transmission capacity is improved, but hardware cost and complexity become economically infeasible for point-to-multipoint applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple independent coherent transceivers into a single master-slave architecture. Instead of deploying expensive coherent transceivers at each access node, the system combines multiple access nodes into a point-to-multipoint configuration where one master laser serves multiple slave transceivers, dramatically reducing hardware cost while maintaining high data transmission capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The master laser signal is copied and distributed to multiple slave transceivers through optical frequency comb generation. This copying enables multiple access nodes to share a single expensive master laser source, making coherent technology economically feasible for point-to-multipoint access networks.
3Loss of energy
If legacy fiber infrastructure is used to avoid retrenchment costs, then capital expenditure is reduced, but fiber quality limitations reduce available capacity and require more sophisticated transmission techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission parameters by using coherent modulation formats and optical frequency comb multiplication. This enables the extraction of higher capacity from legacy fiber infrastructure by operating at higher symbol rates and utilizing wider spectral bandwidths, thereby increasing fiber capacity without requiring physical fiber upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical frequency comb generator creates multiple copied versions of the master laser signal at different wavelengths. These copied signals can be multiplexed onto the legacy fiber infrastructure, effectively multiplying the available capacity of existing fibers without requiring retrenchment.
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 data transmission speeds and capacity while reducing hardware complexity and cost, enabling efficient utilization of existing fiber infrastructure and supporting future bandwidth demands with improved receiver sensitivity and spectral efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an input data stream and a laser injected modulator including at least one slave laser having a resonator frequency that is injection locked to a frequency of the single longitudinal mode of the master seed laser source
Implementation Method 2
The laser injected modulator is configured to receive the master seed laser source input and the input data stream, and output a laser modulated data stream
Data Source
AI summary
An injection locked transmitter for an optical communication network includes a master seed laser source input substantially confined to a single longitudinal mode, an input data stream, and a laser injected modulator including at least one slave laser having a resonator frequency that is injection locked to a frequency of the single longitudinal mode of the master seed laser source. The laser injected modulator is configured to receive the master seed laser source input and the input data stream, and output a laser modulated data stream.