Optical Coherent Receiver Mixer Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical access networks face challenges in sensitivity and capacity, particularly in supporting 5G technology with reduced latency and higher bit rates, as existing methods for coherent detection of phase modulated signals are inefficient and require costly electronic processing components.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus utilizing an N×3 optical mixer, optical power splitters, and photodiodes to generate electrical outputs indicative of in-phase and quadrature signal components of phase modulated optical signals, minimizing optical power losses and reducing the need for expensive electronic components by facilitating interference mixtures in the optical domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coherent detection of phase modulated signals is implemented using conventional methods, then sensitivity and information capacity are improved, but costly electronic processing components and high-power electronic components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic processing components with optical processing components. Specifically, an optical mixer is used to perform signal mixing and processing in the optical domain rather than converting to electrical domain for processing. This substitution eliminates the need for costly electronic processing components while maintaining detection sensitivity through optical heterodyne or homodyne detection methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical mixer as an intermediary device between the optical signal source and the photodetectors. This optical mixer acts as a mediator that performs the signal processing functions traditionally handled by electronic components, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving measurement precision through optical domain processing
2Measurement precision
If conventional coherent detection systems are used, then phase modulated signals can be detected, but the number of analog-to-digital converters required increases system cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical processing for electronic processing by using an optical mixer to generate intermediate frequency signals directly in the optical domain. This approach reduces the number of analog-to-digital converters needed because the optical mixing occurs before detection, allowing for more efficient signal processing with fewer conversion stages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and performs the mixing function in the optical domain using an optical mixer, removing the need for subsequent electronic mixing operations that would require additional analog-to-digital converters. By taking out the mixing function from the electronic domain and placing it in the optical domain, the system complexity is reduced
3Productivity
If optical power is transmitted through multiple components, then signal processing is achieved, but optical power losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mixing and detection functions into a unified optical processing architecture where the optical mixer directly interfaces with photodetectors. This integration reduces the number of separate optical components and connections required, thereby minimizing optical power losses while maintaining signal processing capability through the combined optical mixing and detection process
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 solution enhances sensitivity and capacity in optical access networks by eliminating the need for certain high-power electronic components and reducing the number of analog-to-digital converters required, thereby improving the detection of phase modulated signals with minimal power losses.
Implementation Method 1
an optical mixer and first and second optical power splitters. The optical mixer has two or more optical input ports, three optical output ports and is configured to output first, second and third mixtures of light, respectively, corresponding to input light received from the optical input ports
Implementation Method 2
first, second, third and fourth photodiodes... configured to transmit part of one of the mixtures of light... to the first photodiode and to transmit a remaining part... to the third photodiode
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including first, second, third and fourth photodiodes, optical mixer and first and second optical power splitters. The optical mixer has two or more input ports, three output ports to output first, second and third mixtures of light corresponding to input light received from the input ports and transferred to the output ports. The first splitter has an input port and first and second output ports, to transmit part of one of the mixtures of light from one of the output ports to the first photodiode and a remaining part of the one mixture of light from the other one of the output ports to the third photodiode. The second splitter has an input port and first and second output ports, the second splitter to transmit part of another one of the mixtures of light from one of the output ports to the first photodiode and a remaining part of the other one of the mixtures of light from the other one of the output ports to the fourth photodiode. The third output port of the optical mixer is connected to transmit a different one of the mixtures of light to the second photodiode.