Optical Comb Generator Isolation for Stable Rapid Frequency Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical comb distance meters face instability and prolonged measurement times due to load fluctuations during frequency switching in optical comb generators, hindering accurate and efficient long-distance measurements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating isolators between signal sources and switching circuits to stabilize the operation of optical comb generators, allowing for rapid frequency switching and stable signal transmission, thereby enabling precise and swift distance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If frequency switching is performed in optical comb generators without isolators, then measurement time can be reduced, but operation stability deteriorates due to load fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
An isolator is introduced as an intermediary component between the signal source and switching circuit. The isolator acts as a mediator that allows frequency switching to occur while preventing load fluctuations from affecting the signal source, thus maintaining operation stability during rapid frequency transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional blocks: signal source, isolator, and switching circuit. This segmentation allows the isolator to specifically address the stability issue during frequency switching without affecting the overall measurement speed, enabling independent optimization of each component.
2Reliability
If isolators are added to stabilize frequency switching, then operation stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The isolator serves as a specialized intermediary component that provides stability during frequency switching. While it does increase device complexity, the isolator is a standard optical component that can be integrated without fundamentally redesigning the system architecture, making the complexity increase manageable and justified by the significant improvement in measurement reliability.
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
The solution stabilizes the optical comb generation device, facilitating immediate frequency switching and reducing measurement time, thus enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of long-distance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating isolators between signal sources and switching circuits to stabilize the operation of optical comb generators
Implementation Method 2
respectively modulated of its phase or intensity periodically
Implementation Method 3
respectively modulated of its phase or intensity periodically
Implementation Method 4
emitting a pulse of a reference light and a measuring light with a coherence
Implementation Method 5
detects an interference light of a reference light pulse emitted to a reference surface and a measuring light pulse emitted to a measuring surface
Data Source
AI summary
By inputting a modulation signal from a synthesizer circuit 11 to a switching circuit 13 via isolator elements 12A, 12B by inserting the isolator elements 12A, 12B between the synthesizer circuit 11 and the switching circuit 13, an operation of the synthesizer circuit 11 is prevented from being unstable with a load fluctuation by an opening or a short-circuit of circuits after the switching circuit, so an operation of the synthesizer circuit 11 will not be unstable by a load fluctuation when switching driving signals supplied to optical comb generators 14A, 14B by the switching circuit 13, and a driving state is transited by switching the driving signals of the optical comb generators 14A, 14B rapidly.