Optical Cross-Connect Using Electro-Optic Modulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical cross-connects in reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) are large and costly due to high loss and limited output ports, which complicates intelligent wavelength scheduling and increases size and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed optical cross-connect design includes an input-end unit, an optical beam-splitting and switching unit, and an output-end unit, which splits and deflects light beams to provide more output ports with reduced beam-splitting loss by using a preset optical-path offset parameter set, allowing for more efficient optical path deflection and beam alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an N×M MCS module uses N 1×M beam splitters and M 1×N optical switches, then wavelength adding or dropping functions are implemented, but the beam splitter part causes great loss and limits the number of output ports to a maximum of 16
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/optical beam splitter system with an electro-optical modulator system. Instead of using passive beam splitters that inherently divide and lose light power, the invention uses active electro-optical modulators controlled by electrical signals to route light beams. This substitution eliminates the fundamental loss mechanism of beam splitting while maintaining the ability to distribute light to multiple output ports, thereby resolving the contradiction between minimizing loss and maximizing port versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from optical path routing via beam splitters to electrical signal control via electro-optical modulators. By using voltage or current signals to control the optical switching, the system can dynamically adjust the number of output ports and routing paths without being constrained by the fixed loss characteristics of beam splitter architecture. This parameter change enables flexible adaptation of output port quantity while maintaining low loss through active control rather than passive splitting.
2Area of stationary object
If a maximum of 16 output ports are supported due to MCS module limitations, then the ROADM size is reduced, but multiple MCS modules are required which increases overall size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal optical cross-connect platform that can accommodate any number of input and output ports through a standardized array of electro-optical modulators. Instead of requiring multiple specialized MCS modules each limited to 16 ports, the invention provides a single multi-functional platform where the same basic structure can be configured for different port quantities. This universal design eliminates the need for module multiplication while maintaining scalability, thereby reducing overall ROADM size without sacrificing output port capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability to the optical cross-connect structure. The electro-optical modulators can be dynamically controlled to create different routing configurations and port allocations based on real-time network requirements. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its output port capacity without physical reconfiguration or addition of modules, enabling the ROADM to maintain a compact size while providing flexible access to any number of output ports as needed.
3Power
If an optical amplifier array is added between line side and client side to compensate for MCS module loss, then signal power is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the optical amplifier array from the system architecture by eliminating the source of high loss—the beam splitter-based MCS module structure. By replacing the lossy passive beam splitting architecture with low-loss active electro-optical modulation, the system no longer requires external power compensation through amplifiers. This extraction of the amplifier component simplifies the overall device structure, reduces complexity, and lowers cost while maintaining adequate optical signal power through the more efficient electro-optical control mechanism.
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 design reduces the size and cost of the optical cross-connect by increasing the number of output ports while minimizing insertion loss, enhancing the reconfigurability and maintainability of ROADM nodes.
Implementation Method 1
The optical beam-splitting and switching unit is further configured to: perform optical path deflection on each group of second light beams in the set of second light beams based on a preset optical-path offset parameter set
Data Source
AI summary
An optical cross-connect disclosed herein includes an input-end unit, an optical beam-splitting and switching unit, and an output-end unit. The input-end unit is configured to transmit a set of first light beams to the optical beam-splitting and switching unit. The optical beam-splitting and switching unit is configured to split each light beam in the set of first light beams into second light beams, to obtain a set of second light beams. The optical beam-splitting and switching unit is further configured to: perform optical path deflection on each light beam in the set of second light beams based on a preset optical-path offset parameter set, and transmit, to the output-end unit, the deflected second light beams. The output-end unit is configured to output the set of second light beams.