Multi-Wavelength Coherent Receiver Hardware Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital signal processing (DSP) based optical coherent receivers are limited in detecting multiple optical wavelength channels simultaneously, which hinders efficient sharing and simplification of electro-optics and DSP hardware, increasing implementation costs.

Innovation Solution

A multi-wavelength coherent receiver design utilizing a tunable multi-wavelength local oscillator (MWLO) with a polarization-diversity optical hybrid module, PIN diodes, analog-to-digital converters, and digital signal processing (DSP) for chromatic dispersion compensation and time domain equalization, allowing simultaneous detection of multiple wavelength channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single coherent receiver is designed to detect multiple optical wavelength channels simultaneously, then hardware sharing and simplification is achieved, but the complexity of the receiver design increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware sharing and simplificationVSAvoidreceiver design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal coherent receiver that can detect multiple optical wavelength channels simultaneously by using a single local oscillator with multiple wavelengths. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware components (photodetectors, ADCs, DSP) to process multiple WDM channels, achieving hardware sharing and simplification while maintaining the ability to handle different wavelength channels through digital signal processing separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple separate coherent receivers are used for each wavelength channel, then detection accuracy is maintained, but implementation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate coherent receiver functions into a single integrated receiver. By combining multiple wavelength channels from a WDM signal into one receiver using a multi-wavelength local oscillator, the system achieves cost-effective implementation while maintaining detection accuracy through digital signal processing that separates and processes each channel independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a multi-wavelength local oscillator is used to lock to multiple channels simultaneously, then channel selection efficiency is improved, but frequency offset management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel selection efficiencyVSAvoidfrequency offset management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms in the digital signal processing to manage frequency offsets for multiple wavelength channels. The system continuously monitors and adjusts frequency offsets for each channel detected by the multi-wavelength local oscillator, enabling efficient channel selection and simultaneous locking to multiple channels while maintaining accurate frequency synchronization through adaptive feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables efficient detection and processing of multiple wavelength channels using shared hardware, reducing implementation costs and maintaining frequency lock among local oscillators, thus enhancing the capability to handle WDM signals on both fixed and flexible grids.

Implementation Method 1

polarization-diversity optical hybrid module... split an optical signal into multiple polarization components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

polarization diversity optical hybrid mixes one of the plurality of multi-carrier optical signals with a reference source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical interference: Interference

Implementation Method 3

A plurality of detectors detects polarization components of the first channel wavelength... A plurality of PIN diodes coupled to the polarization-diversity optical hybrid module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3097651B1System and method for a multi-wavelength coherent receiver
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3097651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3097651B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3097651B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments are provided for a novel multi-wavelength coherent receiver (MWCR) design and operation capable of detecting multiple optical wavelength channels. The embodiments include an optical receiver comprising a polarization-diversity optical hybrid module, a multiple wavelength local oscillator (MWLO) coupled to an input of the polarization-diversity optical hybrid module, a plurality of PIN diodes coupled to the polarization-diversity optical hybrid module, a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) coupled to the PIN diodes, and a digital signal processing (DSP) module coupled to the ADCs. The polarization-diversity optical hybrid module splits an optical signal into multiple polarization components, wherein the optical signal includes multiple channels at multiple wavelengths. The MWLO locks the optical signal to the multiple wavelengths of the channels simultaneously. The DSP combines the signals from the ADCs corresponding to the polarization components and detects the channels at the wavelengths.