Multimode Amplifier for Legacy Singlemode Fiber Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies face challenges in enhancing optical fiber capacity, particularly due to the limitations of using legacy fiber plants that cannot support multiple modes, leading to high costs for new fiber installations and inadequate simultaneous amplification of multiple modes in optical amplifiers.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an optical network configuration using legacy singlemode fibers connected through a multimode multiplexer and amplifier, along with a demultiplexer, allowing for the efficient use of existing fibers and reducing the need for multiple singlemode amplifiers, while incorporating a multimode amplifier that can handle multiple modes and optional singlemode amplifiers for noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If new multimode fibers are installed to enable mode multiplexing, then the capacity of optical fibers can be enhanced, but the costs increase significantly due to new fiber installations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical fiber capacityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables legacy singlemode fibers to perform multimode transmission by introducing a mode multiplexer at the input and mode demultiplexer at the output. This allows existing fiber infrastructure to be reused for mode-division multiplexing, achieving enhanced capacity without requiring new multimode fiber installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mode multiplexer and demultiplexer act as intermediary devices that transform singlemode input signals into multiple modes for transmission through legacy fibers, and subsequently recover the original signals at the output. This intermediary approach bridges the gap between legacy infrastructure and advanced multimode transmission capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If separate singlemode amplifiers are used for each transmission fiber, then each fiber can be amplified independently, but the number of network elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent amplificationVSAvoidnumber of network elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines multiple singlemode transmission paths into a single multimode transmission path using a mode multiplexer. A single multimode amplifier then amplifies all modes simultaneously, reducing the number of amplifiers from multiple singlemode amplifiers to one multimode amplifier, thereby reducing network element count while maintaining amplification functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multimode amplifier performs the function of multiple singlemode amplifiers simultaneously by amplifying multiple modes in a single device. This multi-functional approach maintains the amplification capability for each original transmission path while reducing the total number of amplifier units required in the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If legacy singlemode fibers are used, then existing fiber plants can be utilized, but they cannot support multiple modes for increased capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereuse of existing fibersVSAvoidtransmission capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the modal parameter of the transmission system by introducing mode multiplexing at the input and mode demultiplexing at the output. This allows legacy singlemode fibers to transmit multiple modes simultaneously, effectively changing their capacity characteristics without physical modification to the fiber itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically manages mode conversion through the mode multiplexer and demultiplexer, enabling legacy fibers to adapt to multimode transmission requirements. The mode multiplexer dynamically couples multiple singlemode inputs into different spatial modes of the legacy fiber, allowing the fiber to function in a multimode capacity regime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively increases optical fiber capacity by utilizing existing cables with multiple fibers, reducing the number of network elements and costs, while enabling efficient amplification of multiple modes, thus addressing the limitations of current technologies.

Implementation Method 1

a multimode amplifier, in particular a multimode erbium doped fiber amplifier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStimulated emission:

Implementation Method 2

a multimode amplifier, in particular a multimode erbium doped fiber amplifier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectErbium doping:

Implementation Method 3

legacy optical singlemode fibers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2880791B1Optical network and optical network element

Publication Date: 2023.05.10 XIEON NETWORKS SARL

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AI summary

An optical network is suggested, comprising a first set of optical fibers, a multimode multiplexer, a multimode amplifier, a multimode demultiplexer, and a second set of optical fibers, wherein the first set of optical fibers is connected via the multimode multiplexer to the multimode amplifier and wherein the multimode amplifier is connected via the multimode demultiplexer to the second set of optical fibers. Accordingly, an optical network element is provided.