Modulatable Laser Reflectors for Phase-Component Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical data transmission methods face challenges in efficiently modulating different phase components of an optical wavelength carrier for advanced modulation schemes like BPSK, QPSK, and N-QAM, particularly in avoiding crosstalk and achieving low frequency chirp.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a laser with modulatable optical reflectors and an electronic controller that modulates the transmissivity of these reflectors to produce mutually coherent optical beams with relative phase differences, which are then combined using optical power combiners to generate in-phase and quadrature-phase components, utilizing tunable filters to attenuate sidebands and prevent crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If direct laser modulation is used to produce intensity-modulated optical signals, then power cost is reduced, but modulation complexity for advanced schemes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modulation process by using separate modulatable optical reflectors for different phase components (I and Q channels). Each reflector independently modulates its respective phase component, allowing complex modulation schemes to be achieved through simpler, distributed modulation elements rather than a single complex modulator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-dimensional intensity modulation to two-dimensional phase modulation by utilizing multiple optical reflectors that operate in different phase dimensions (in-phase and quadrature-phase). This enables advanced modulation schemes like QPSK and N-QAM by adding a phase dimension to the modulation space.
2Productivity
If multiple optical beams are combined to carry different data streams, then data transmission capacity increases, but crosstalk between channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical filters as intermediary elements between the optical beams and the output. These filters selectively pass desired wavelength components while attenuating unwanted sidebands and adjacent channel signals, thereby reducing crosstalk. The filters act as mediators that allow multiple data streams to coexist in the same optical medium without interfering with each other.
3Speed
If optical reflectors are modulated at high baud rates, then data transmission speed increases, but frequency chirp increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful frequency chirp components through optical filtering. The optical filters are configured to pass the main carrier frequency while attenuating frequency sidebands generated by rapid modulation of the optical reflectors. This separation allows high-speed modulation to be performed while the unwanted frequency excursions are filtered out, leaving a cleaner optical signal.
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 efficient data modulation on optical wavelength carriers, supporting advanced modulation schemes with reduced crosstalk and low frequency chirp, enhancing the performance of optical data transmission systems.
Implementation Method 1
The optical power combiner is connected to interfere the light received from the first and second of the modulatable optical reflectors with a relative phase difference
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a laser, an optical power combiner, and an electronic controller. The laser has a plurality of modulatable optical reflectors and is operable to emit mutually coherent optical beams from the modulatable optical reflectors. The optical power combiner has a first optical inputs connected to receive light of one of the optical beams emitted from a first of the modulatable optical reflectors and has a second optical input connected to receive light of one of the optical beams emitted from a second of the modulatable optical reflectors. The electronic controller is connected to operate the first and second of the modulatable optical reflectors to modulate the optical beams emitted therefrom to carry respective first and second data streams. The optical power combiner is connected to interfere the light received from the first and second of the modulatable optical reflectors with a relative phase difference.