Optical Comb Generation via Modulator Phase Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical comb generation devices face difficulties in controlling frequency intervals and achieving a stable comb signal, particularly in exceeding the drive electric signal band of a modulator.
Innovation Solution
The device employs multiple optical modulators in parallel, adjusting their phases and amplitudes to generate an optical comb signal with desired frequency intervals, ensuring that components with cancelling frequencies cancel each other out, while intensifying desired frequency components, thereby stabilizing the comb signal beyond the modulator's drive signal band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single optical modulator is used to generate optical comb signal, then the device structure is simple, but the frequency interval is limited by the drive electric signal band of the modulator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single modulator into multiple parallel modulators (first optical modulator and second optical modulator). Each modulator generates comb signals with intervals of frequency f, but by combining their outputs with appropriate phase relationships, the system achieves comb signals with intervals of 2f, effectively extending the frequency interval range beyond what a single modulator can provide.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical modulators are used in parallel to extend frequency interval, then the frequency interval control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the output light from multiple parallel modulators through a multiplexing unit. By controlling the phase relationships between modulators and combining their outputs, the system achieves frequency interval multiplication (from f to 2f) while managing the complexity through systematic phase control and optical combining.
3Device complexity
If conventional methods are used to control frequency intervals, then the device structure is simple, but the comb signal stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control unit that actively controls the drive signals applied to multiple parallel modulators. By coordinating the phase and frequency of drive signals across modulators and managing their interference patterns, the system stabilizes the optical comb signal frequencies and intervals, achieving reliable frequency control beyond what passive single-modulator systems can provide.
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 approach allows for the stable generation of optical comb signals with frequency intervals exceeding the modulator's drive electric signal band, achieving high-intensity frequency components and improved frequency interval control.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical modulator 5 into which first light demultiplexed by the demultiplexing unit 3 is inputted and which performs first modulation
Implementation Method 2
components having desired frequency intervals intensify each other, and components having frequencies cancelling each other out cancel each other out
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an optical comb generation device and an optical comb signal generation method capable of stably generating an optical comb signal having an optical frequency interval exceeding the drive electric signal band of a modulator. When light output from a first optical modulator 5 and a second optical modulator 7 is multiplexed in a multiplexing unit 13, the first optical modulator 5 and the second optical modulator 7 cancel the even-ordered components or odd-ordered components included in the light output from the first optical modulator 5 and the second optical modulator 7 and, when light output from a third optical modulator 9 and a fourth optical modulator 11 is multiplexed in the multiplexing unit 13, the third optical modulator 9 and the fourth optical modulator 11 cancel the even-ordered components or odd-ordered components included in the light output from the third optical modulator 9 and the fourth optical modulator 11, wherein the same components cancelled in the light output from the first optical modulator 5 and the second optical modulator 7 are cancelled.