Optical Communication Bandwidth Multiplexing Power Levels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical communication systems face limitations in bandwidth utilization, particularly when using WDM, as they do not efficiently utilize the available bandwidth, leading to the need for additional fibers and increased costs, and existing schemes like AM and DDPDM suffer from interference issues and complex decoding processes.

Innovation Solution

The system employs multiple light sources transmitting at different power levels on the same wavelength, using detection models like Poisson probability distributions to differentiate between streams, allowing for simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams on a single optical link, thereby doubling or tripling the bandwidth without requiring additional fibers or complex interference cancellation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If WDM is used to increase bandwidth, then more channels can be transmitted, but the available bandwidth is not efficiently utilized and additional fibers are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidnumber of fibers required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of light power levels, transmitting multiple data streams at different power levels over the same wavelength. This allows the system to fully utilize the available bandwidth by encoding additional information in the power domain, thereby increasing productivity without requiring additional fibers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension for data transmission by using multiple power levels (amplitude modulation) in addition to the wavelength dimension. This allows multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over the same fiber and wavelength, effectively utilizing the available bandwidth and reducing the need for additional fibers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If amplitude modulation is used to transmit multiple streams, then bandwidth increases, but interference issues arise between streams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth capacityVSAvoidinterference between streams
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiver detects the power levels of received signals and uses this information to decode multiple data streams. The system continuously adjusts and optimizes the power level assignments based on detected signal characteristics, thereby managing interference between streams while maintaining high bandwidth capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If digital domain power division multiplexing is used, then spectral efficiency doubles, but decoding complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiddecoding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning specific power levels to different data streams before transmission. The receiver is预先 configured with knowledge of these power level assignments, which simplifies the decoding process. This preliminary setup allows for efficient separation of streams without requiring complex real-time interference cancellation, thereby maintaining high spectral efficiency while reducing decoding complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 significantly increases bandwidth utilization, simplifies decoding, and adapts to varying transmitter conditions, reducing costs and complexity while maintaining high data transmission efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first light source transmits a first stream of data as light pulses at a first power level

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission and modulation: Light

Implementation Method 2

a second phonon detector detects the light signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhoton detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3935766B1Throughput increases for optical communications
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3935766B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3935766B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3935766B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in some examples, are optical devices, systems, and machine-readable mediums that send and receive multiple streams of data across a same optical communication path (e.g., a same fiber optic fiber) with a same wavelength using different light sources transmitting at different power levels - thereby increasing the bandwidth of each optical communication path. Each light source corresponding to each stream transmits at a same frequency and on the same optical communication path using a different power level. The receiver differentiates the data for each stream by applying one or more detection models to the photon counts observed at the receiver to determine likely bit assignments for each stream.