Lithium Niobate Optical Transmission for Multi-RF Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing network resources to meet the growing demand for mobile data transmission without compromising user experience, particularly in heterogeneous mobile networks.
Innovation Solution
An optical transmission device utilizing lithium niobate modulation, comprising a laser, radio-frequency signal channels, ground channels, and optical splitting and combining elements, to modulate optical signals with multiple radio-frequency signals, enabling flexible configuration of analog and digital signals for efficient signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional network systems are used to meet growing mobile data transmission demand, then network capacity can be increased, but network resource utilization efficiency deteriorates and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transmission device is designed to handle multiple signal types (analog and digital RF signals) through a unified platform. The modulator can process both analog RF signals for direct modulation and digital RF signals for coherent modulation, making the system universally applicable to different signal formats and communication standards, thereby improving network resource utilization without requiring separate dedicated systems for each signal type
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments the optical signal transmission into multiple independent optical paths, each capable of carrying different RF signal types. By dividing the optical signal into separate channels that can be independently modulated and transmitted, the system achieves flexible resource allocation and improved utilization efficiency while maintaining high transmission capacity
2Manufacturing precision
If lithium niobate modulator is used for optical signal modulation, then modulation linearity and bandwidth are improved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional components into a compact nested structure where the lithium niobate modulator is embedded within a integrated optical module that includes laser source, optical paths, and control circuits. This nesting approach maintains the high modulation linearity and bandwidth of lithium niobate while reducing the overall device footprint through space-efficient component arrangement and integration
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges the lithium niobate modulator with other optical components (laser, optical paths, detectors) into a single integrated optical transmission device. This consolidation maintains the superior modulation performance of lithium niobate while reducing the total device size by eliminating separate housings and interconnections between discrete components
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio-frequency signal channels are integrated into the optical transmission device, then signal transmission flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transmission device is designed with a universal modulator structure that can handle multiple RF signal channels with different formats (analog and digital) through a unified control interface. This multi-functional design allows flexible signal transmission without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each channel type, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic signal routing and modulation control that can adaptively configure which RF channels are active and how they are modulated onto the optical carrier. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the system to flexibly handle varying signal requirements without permanently hardwiring complex multi-channel paths, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining transmission flexibility
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
The device achieves low power consumption, small size, and high performance, allowing for flexible network construction with reduced terminal size and efficient resource utilization, improving modulation linearity and bandwidth.
Implementation Method 1
optical transmission device with a lithium niobate modulator, configured to modulate the optical signal with multiple radio-frequency signals through the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
a front-end optical splitting element disposed in the input optical fiber and configured to split the initial optical signal
Implementation Method 3
an optical combining element connected to the two optical splitting paths and configured to combine the two optical splitting signals to generate an optical modulation signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical transmission device includes a laser configured to generate an initial optical signal, radio-frequency signal channels configured to transmit radio-frequency modulation signal, a ground channel disposed in parallel with and connected to the radio-frequency signal channels, an input optical fiber receiving the initial optical signal, a front-end optical splitting element splitting the initial optical signal, and optical transmission units. Each optical transmission unit includes a rear-end optical splitting element connected to the front-end optical splitting element, two optical splitting paths, an optical combining element, and an output optical fiber configured to output the optical modulation signal. One of the radio-frequency signal channels is disposed between the two optical splitting paths, and two of the radio-frequency signal channels are disposed at two sides of the two optical splitting paths, to modulate the optical splitting signal with the corresponding radio-frequency modulation signal.