Optical Carrier Selector Using Tunable Filter Series
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical network infrastructures, selecting individual carriers from a multi-carrier signal generated by a multi-wavelength source is challenging, especially in flex-grid systems with tunable channel spacing, as existing solutions like BV-WSSs and WSSs are costly and not easily integrable, and cannot handle tunable carrier spacing effectively.
Innovation Solution
An optical carrier selector system comprising a series of optical filter devices that filter out unwanted carrier signals, with each device having an input port, an output port for wanted signals, and a drop port for monitoring and removing unwanted signals, allowing for re-tuning and fine-tuning of carrier selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a BV-WSS or WSS is used to select an individual carrier from a multi-wavelength source, then carrier selection capability is provided, but the system cost increases and integration with the source becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the carrier selection function into multiple stages, with each optical filter device responsible for filtering a specific unwanted carrier. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive carrier selection capability while using simpler, more cost-effective individual filter components that can be more easily integrated with the multi-wavelength source.
2Ease of operation
If a WSS is used for carrier selection, then carrier selection is achieved, but the system cannot handle tunable carrier spacing in flex-grid infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs tunable optical filter devices whose filtering characteristics can be dynamically adjusted. This allows the system to adapt to different carrier spacing configurations in flex-grid infrastructure, enabling the same hardware to handle both fixed and tunable carrier spacing scenarios without requiring replacement of the core selection mechanism.
3Reliability
If multiple laser sources are used to generate a super-channel, then each carrier can be obtained through a dedicated laser source, but laser instability generates carrier frequency overlapping causing signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unwanted carrier frequencies from the multi-carrier signal using optical filter devices. By actively removing the overlapping or unwanted carriers after generation, the system maintains the simplicity of using multiple laser sources while eliminating the harmful frequency overlapping effect that would otherwise cause signal degradation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a series of optical filter devices is used to select carriers, then the system can be tuned to select different carriers and handle different frequency spacing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical filter devices with universal functionality, where each filter can be tuned to target different carrier frequencies and spacing configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple dedicated filters for different scenarios, as the same filter hardware can be reconfigured through tuning to handle various carrier selection requirements, thereby mitigating the increase in device complexity.
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 efficient selection and monitoring of wanted carrier signals in systems with tunable carrier spacing, reducing costs and improving accuracy by using a series of optical filter devices that can be easily integrated with the source, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
each optical filter device being configured to filter out an unwanted carrier signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical carrier selector system is provided for selecting a wanted carrier signal from a multi-carrier signal comprising a plurality of carrier signals. The optical carrier selector system comprises a series of optical filter devices. Each optical filter device of the series comprises an input port for receiving a signal comprising two or more carrier signals, each optical filter device being configured to filter out an unwanted carrier signal. Each optical filter device also comprises an output port for outputting at least the wanted carrier signal and any remaining signals that have not been filtered out by that particular optical filter device, and a drop port for outputting the unwanted carrier signal that is being filtered out by the respective optical filter device. By outputting from a drop port the unwanted carrier signal that is being filtered out by the respective optical filter device, this has the advantage of enabling the operation of the optical carrier selector system to be monitored for proper operation, and controlled or adjusted if necessary.