Multicore Fiber MIMO Communication System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical fiber communication systems using multicore fibers face challenges in reducing the number of fibers while maintaining large-capacity communication, as enlarging the center-to-center distance between cores leads to increased fiber diameter and reduced flexibility, limiting installation options.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a multicore fiber configuration with equal, symmetrically arranged cores having equal refractive indexes and a common clad, allowing for MIMO communication to manage signal interference, thereby reducing the number of fibers needed and maintaining a compact diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the center-to-center distance of the cores is enlarged in the multicore fiber, then optical interference among the cores is reduced, but the diameter of the clad is inevitably enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter by setting different refractive indexes for adjacent cores (first core: 1.450, second core: 1.448, third core: 1.450, fourth core: 1.448). This parameter change allows the cores to be optically isolated without requiring large center-to-center distances, thus preventing clad diameter enlargement while reducing optical interference through refractive index differentiation rather than spatial separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the refractive index distribution among adjacent cores. By making the refractive indexes of adjacent cores different (creating an asymmetric optical profile), the patent prevents optical coupling between cores without needing to increase the distance between them, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing interference and maintaining compact fiber diameter
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the diameter of the clad is enlarged, then the cores can be spaced farther apart to reduce interference, but the reduction in the number of optical fibers becomes meaningless and the fiber flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the refractive index parameter of adjacent cores to be different, the patent achieves optical isolation at small center-to-center distances. This allows the clad diameter to remain small (maintaining fiber flexibility and adaptability) while still preventing harmful optical interference between closely-spaced cores
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric refractive index design enables compact core spacing without excessive optical coupling. The different refractive indexes create optical barriers that prevent interference even when cores are closely packed, thereby maintaining fiber flexibility and adaptability while achieving the goal of reducing optical interference
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 configuration enables efficient large-capacity optical communication with a reduced number of fibers, minimizing fiber diameter enlargement and maintaining system flexibility, while also simplifying the transmitter configuration and reducing computational load.
Implementation Method 1
an optical signal is propagated in the core to cause information to be transmitted
Implementation Method 2
an optical receiver receiving the optical signals output in parallel from the respective cores
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an optical fiber communication system restricting enlargement of the diameter of an optical fiber as well as enabling achievement of a large-capacity optical communication with a small number of optical fibers. An optical fiber communication system 100 includes an optical transmitter 10 transmitting a plurality of optical signals in parallel, a multicore fiber 20 in which outer circumferences of a plurality of cores are covered with a common clad, and the respective optical signals transmitted in parallel from the optical transmitter 10 are input into the cores, and an optical receiver 30 receiving the optical signals output in parallel from the respective cores of the multicore fiber, wherein the optical transmitter 10 and the optical receiver 30 perform a MIMO communication.