Optical Amplifier Control via Shared Excitation Light Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost of optical amplifiers increases proportionally with the number of paths in next-generation drop configurations, as each path requires excitation light sources capable of amplifying the entire WDM signal light, leading to higher costs.
Innovation Solution
An optical amplifier control apparatus that includes a control circuit to determine which paths to allocate excitation lights of varying light intensities based on wavelength parameters, along with optical switches to route these lights to the appropriate amplifiers, reducing the need for multiple high-intensity light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excitation light sources capable of amplifying the entire WDM signal light are provided for each path, then the amplification capability is ensured, but the cost increases proportionally with the number of paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making a single excitation light source serve multiple paths through optical switching. Instead of having dedicated light sources for each path, one light source is shared across multiple optical amplifiers via an optical switch, allowing the same resource to perform multiple functions and reducing overall system cost while maintaining amplification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple excitation light sources into a single shared light source that serves multiple paths. By combining the light sources and using optical switching to distribute the excitation light to different optical amplifiers as needed, the system reduces the total number of light sources required while maintaining the ability to amplify signals on multiple paths.
2Power
If multiple high-intensity light sources are used to maintain amplification on multiple paths, then the signal amplification is maintained, but the overall system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using an optical switch to dynamically allocate excitation light from a single high-intensity light source to different optical amplifiers based on which paths are actively transmitting WDM signals. The system adapts the light source allocation in real-time, ensuring that only the necessary amplifiers receive excitation light at any given moment, thereby maintaining amplification capability while reducing overall system cost.
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 reduces the overall cost of the optical amplifier system by allowing fewer and less intense light sources, with the cost savings increasing with the number of paths, while maintaining effective amplification capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The amplifying medium is excited by laser diode (LD) 199 through optical coupler 59
Implementation Method 2
Part of the WDM signal light that is input to EDF 3 is branched by optical coupler 69, photoelectrically converted by photo diode (PD) 78
Data Source
AI summary
An optical amplifier control apparatus according to the present invention includes control circuit 300; optical amplifiers 4, 5 respectively located on paths; a plurality of light sources 200, 201 that output excitation lights that differ in light intensity; and optical switch 32 that changes optical routes of excitation lights that are output from light sources 200, 201 and inputs the excitation lights to optical amplifiers 4, 5 as determined by control circuit 300. Control circuit 300 is provided with determination section 301 that determines which paths to allocate which excitation lights that differ in light intensity based on a parameter that relates to wavelength lights on a plurality of paths when wavelength lights of WDM signal light that propagate to one of the plurality of paths are optically amplified.