Indirect Optical Coupling via Intermediate Fiber in Transceiver Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical transceivers face challenges in scaling down while maintaining performance due to space constraints and the need for flexible positioning of optical components, which limits the placement of transmitter and receiver subassemblies within the housing.
Innovation Solution
The use of an intermediate fiber to optically couple transmitter and receiver subassemblies to optical ports, allowing for flexible positioning of these components within the transceiver housing by routing the fiber through the housing and using multiplexing or demultiplexing devices, such as arrayed waveguide gratings or PLC splitters, to reduce fiber bending losses and optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct optical coupling is used between subassembly ports and optical components, then optical efficiency is maintained, but component positioning flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate fiber is introduced as a mediator between the subassembly optical ports and the optical components (AWG device). This intermediate fiber enables indirect optical coupling, providing mechanical flexibility for component positioning while maintaining optical signal transmission. The intermediate fiber acts as a buffer that decouples the mechanical positioning constraints from the optical coupling requirements.
2Temperature
If optical components are placed in separate portions of the housing, then thermal effects are reduced, but fiber routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into separate portions for different optical subassemblies, with thermal isolation between them. The intermediate fiber is routed through designated pathways (such as channels or conduits) that guide the fiber from one subassembly port to the optical component in another portion, managing the routing complexity through structured segmentation of the housing space.
3Volume of moving object
If transceiver size is reduced, then integration density increases, but space for component placement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate fiber enables three-dimensional routing of optical signals within the compact housing volume. By utilizing vertical and lateral pathways rather than requiring planar proximity, the system achieves compact integration while maintaining component placement flexibility. The fiber can route through multiple dimensions of the housing to connect components that are spatially separated.
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 approach enables the placement of optical components in separate portions of the housing, optimizing space and reducing thermal effects, while maintaining high transmission rates and distances, thus addressing the challenge of scaling down optical transceivers effectively.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate fiber with a first end optically coupled to an optical coupling port and a second end optically coupled to a multiplexing or demultiplexing device
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for flexible coupling between an optical coupling receptacle/port of an optical transceiver housing and optical components within the same are disposed. In an embodiment, an optical transceiver housing includes an intermediate fiber with a first end optically coupled to an optical coupling port and a second end optically coupled to a multiplexer/de-multiplexer device, e.g., an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device, PLC splitter, and so on. The intermediate fiber may be routed in the transceiver housing in a manner that and the radius of the bends may be optimized to reduce fiber bending losses. The techniques herein are equally applicable to both ROSA and TOSA modules and may be utilized to achieve flexible coupling for multi-channel transceiver devices.