Optical Carrier Splitting for QAM System Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for improving QAM system reliability are hindered by high costs and complex implementation, particularly due to the need for multicarrier generation apparatuses and phase modulation with multiple delay units or controllable phase units.

Innovation Solution

A signal transmitting method that splits a single-wavelength optical carrier into multiple subcarriers, performing data modulation and amplitude spread spectrum modulation using low-speed data signals and spreading codes, which reduces the Baud rate and allows for processing with low-speed DACs and electrical devices, thereby improving system reliability without the need for complex multicarrier generation or phase modulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If higher-order QAM modulation is used to increase transmission capacity, then transmission capacity is improved, but anti-noise performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidanti-noise performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a high-speed data signal into multiple low-speed data streams, each modulating a separate subcarrier. This segmentation allows each DAC to operate at lower speeds with higher ENOB, reducing quantization noise and improving the anti-noise performance of higher-order QAM while maintaining overall transmission capacity through parallel subcarrier transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a high-speed DAC is used to process high-speed data signals, then transmission capacity is improved, but quantization noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing speedVSAvoidquantization noise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the high-speed data signal into multiple low-speed parallel streams, allowing the use of multiple low-speed DACs with higher ENOB instead of a single high-speed DAC. This reduces quantization noise while maintaining the required data throughput through parallel processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multiple copies of the data stream (divided into parallel low-speed streams) that are processed by separate DACs. Each copy is processed at a lower speed with higher precision, and the results are combined to achieve the equivalent of high-speed transmission with reduced quantization noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If multicarrier generation apparatus and demultiplexer are used to process data signals, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex multicarrier generation apparatus and demultiplexer from the system. Instead, it uses a simple optical splitter to generate subcarriers and direct parallel processing, thereby maintaining system reliability through low-speed high-precision DACs while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex multicarrier generation equipment with simpler, more cost-effective components such as optical splitters and parallel low-speed DACs. This substitution achieves the same reliability improvement goals at a lower cost and with simpler implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If spectral phase encoder with multiple delay units is used to perform spectrum spreading, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQAM system reliabilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex spectral phase encoder with multiple delay units from the system. Instead, it achieves spectrum spreading and reliability improvement through parallel low-speed DAC processing and amplitude modulation, thereby maintaining the reliability benefits while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3367593B1Signal transmitting method, signal receiving method, and relevant device and system
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3367593B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3367593B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3367593B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

According to a signal transmitting method, a signal receiving method, and a related device and system, a generated single-wavelength optical carrier may be split into N subcarriers with a same wavelength by using a splitting device, corresponding data modulation and corresponding amplitude spread spectrum modulation are performed on the N subcarriers by using N spreading codes and N low-speed data signals obtained by deserializing a received high-speed data signal, to obtain N spread spectrum modulation signals, and the N spread spectrum modulation signals are combined and output. A multicarrier generation apparatus or the like having a relatively complex structure does not need to be used for optical carrier splitting, and spectrum spreading does not need to be performed in a phase modulation manner in which a plurality of delay units or controllable phase units are required. Therefore, system reliability is improved, and problems such as relatively high costs and a relatively great difficulty in implementation that exist in an existing scheme of improving QAM system reliability are resolved.