Integrated ONU Adapter for PON Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing equipment without an Ethernet WAN port poses challenges for coupling to a Passive Optical Network (PON) network, as it requires bulky and expensive ONU adapters with multiple signal conversions, and reconfiguring LAN ports is risky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A simplified ONU adapter that connects directly to the equipment's SFP port, eliminating the need for an Ethernet WAN port and reducing size, cost, and electrical consumption, by using a 'phantom SFP' connector and a shielded cable for signal exchange, and sharing power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional ONU adapter box is used to connect equipment without an Ethernet WAN port to a PON network, then the equipment can be coupled to the optical network, but the adapter becomes bulky, expensive, and requires multiple signal conversions and a dedicated power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ONU adapter functionality directly into the existing equipment housing, eliminating the need for a separate adapter box. The adapter circuit board is integrated within the equipment case, sharing the same power supply and physical space, thereby reducing overall device complexity and size while maintaining PON network connectivity capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing equipment serve multiple functions: it acts as both the customer premises equipment (CPE) and the ONU adapter simultaneously. By integrating the ONU functionality into the equipment without an Ethernet WAN port, the device becomes universal, eliminating the need for dedicated adapter hardware and power supply
2Adaptability or versatility
If an ONU adapter box with multiple signal conversions is used, then equipment can be connected to PON network, but the cost and electrical consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power consumption of the ONU adapter with the existing equipment's power supply. Instead of requiring a separate power supply unit, the adapter circuit board draws power from the equipment's existing power source, thereby reducing overall electrical consumption and eliminating the need for additional power management components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary signal conversion stages. By using a direct optical-to-electrical conversion approach within the integrated adapter circuit, it removes redundant conversion steps that would otherwise increase power consumption and cost
3Adaptability or versatility
If reconfiguration of LAN ports to Ethernet WAN is performed, then equipment can connect to PON network, but the risk of equipment failure increases and LAN port functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network interface functionality by adding a dedicated optical port for PON network connection, separate from the existing Ethernet LAN ports. This allows the equipment to maintain its original LAN functionality while adding WAN capability through the integrated ONU adapter, avoiding the need to reconfigure or sacrifice existing ports
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of converting existing LAN ports to WAN ports (which risks failure), the patent inverts the approach by integrating an ONU adapter that provides WAN functionality through a separate optical interface, thereby preserving the original LAN port configurations and maintaining equipment reliability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The ONU adapter (200) comprises: an SFP port (202) housing a pluggable SFP optical converter module (204) coupled to an optical fiber (Fx) of the PON network; a multiplexing/demultiplexing and signal management circuit (210); and, on the equipment side (100), a pluggable electrical connector (232) for an SFP port (120) of the equipment, normally intended to house an optical SFP converter module for coupling to an active point-to-point optical network (AON). This adapter enables coupling to a PON network of equipment that does not have an Ethernet input/output port for accessing a wide area network (WAN).