Optical Buffer With Dual Recirculation Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical buffers face limitations in storing optical signals for extended periods with acceptable signal-to-noise ratio due to incurred optical losses during signal circulation.
Innovation Solution
An optical buffer design featuring two recirculation loops and a bidirectional optical amplifier that transfers signals between these loops, allowing for extended storage time by compensating optical losses and maintaining an acceptable optical signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If an optical buffer uses a single recirculation loop to store optical signals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the storage duration is limited due to accumulated optical losses
Solution Approach 1:
The optical buffer is divided into multiple recirculation loops (first recirculation loop and second recirculation loop) that can independently store optical signals. Each loop has its own circulation path and can operate semi-independently, allowing signals to be transferred between loops to extend storage duration without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical structure where recirculation loops are nested within the optical buffer system, with loops potentially containing sub-components. The first and second recirculation loops are integrated into a unified buffer architecture, allowing shared resources while maintaining independent circulation paths for extended storage.
2Duration of action of moving object
If an optical buffer extends the circulation time to increase storage duration, then more signals can be stored longer, but optical losses increase and degrade the signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
Optical amplifiers are strategically positioned within the recirculation loops to provide preliminary amplification before signals complete full circulation cycles. This compensates for optical losses accumulated during circulation, maintaining signal-to-noise ratio even as storage duration is extended through multiple circulation passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical amplifiers continuously compensate for losses during signal circulation, ensuring that the useful optical signal is maintained throughout the extended storage period. This continuous amplification action allows signals to circulate multiple times without degradation, enabling longer storage durations while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If an optical buffer implements multiple recirculation loops with signal transfer capability, then the storage duration and signal-to-noise ratio are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical buffer system is designed with multi-functionality where the first and second recirculation loops can independently store signals, transfer signals between each other, and operate in various configurations. This universal design allows a single system to perform multiple functions (storage, signal transfer, loss compensation) without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while improving performance.
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
Enables the storage of optical signals for a significantly longer time than conventional buffers while maintaining an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, facilitating applications in optical communications such as optical packet synchronization and routing.
Implementation Method 1
The optical signal-transfer circuit comprises an optical amplifier configured to amplify an optical signal that is being transferred through the optical signal-transfer circuit between the first optical recirculation loop and the second optical recirculation loop
Data Source
AI summary
We disclose an optical buffer having a plurality of optical ports. In some embodiments, an optical signal to be stored may be injected into the buffer through any one of the optical ports and then may be ejected from the buffer, after being stored therein for a selectable amount of time, through any one of the optical ports as well. This feature advantageously enables the optical buffer to also function as an optical switch or router. In an example embodiment, the optical buffer comprises two optical recirculation loops, each of which can store the optical signal by causing it to circulate therein. The buffer is configured to compensate optical losses incurred by the optical signal during this circulation by transferring the optical signal from one loop to the other through an optical amplifier. Due to the latter feature, the optical buffer may be able to store an optical signal, with an acceptable OSNR, for a significantly longer time than certain conventional optical buffers.