Optical Engine Signal Conditioning for Duty Cycle Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication systems face challenges in transmitting low-speed data alongside high-speed data over optical fibers, leading to duty cycle distortion and increased costs due to the need for additional transmission media and complex timing requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical engines with signal conditioning circuits that allow direct transmission of low-speed data over optical fibers without additional media, using optical transceivers to convert signals and conditioning circuits to correct duty cycle distortion, enabling multiplexing of high-speed and low-speed data on the same fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional optical fibers or copper conductors are used to transmit low-speed data simultaneously with high-speed data, then low-speed data transmission capability is improved, but cable diameter increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both high-speed data and low-speed control data transmission into a single optical fiber by using the optical transceiver's control pins (laser control and optical detect pins) to carry low-speed signals alongside the high-speed optical lanes, eliminating the need for separate transmission media
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver device is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously handles high-speed data transmission through its optical lanes and low-speed control data transmission through its control pins, making a single device serve dual purposes
2Adaptability or versatility
If copper conductors are used for low-speed data transmission, then low-speed data transmission capability is improved, but DC isolation requirements and shielding requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical copper conductor transmission with optical transmission for low-speed control data, using the optical transceiver's existing optical infrastructure and control pins to carry low-speed signals, thereby eliminating the need for copper conductors and their associated DC isolation and shielding requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If low-speed data is intercepted and retransmitted over optical fibers, then low-speed data transmission is achieved, but timing requirements on microcontroller increase cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the low-speed control data transmission function from the main high-speed data path by dedicating specific control pins (laser control pin and optical detect pin) of the optical transceiver to carry low-speed signals directly, bypassing the need for microcontroller interception and retransmission
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional transmission medium is used for low-speed data, then low-speed data transmission capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges low-speed control data transmission with the existing optical infrastructure by utilizing the optical transceiver's control pins and the same optical fiber that carries high-speed data, thereby achieving low-speed transmission without additional optical fibers or transmission media
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 eliminates the need for additional transmission media and costly resending circuits, reducing the diameter of optical cables and lowering costs while maintaining accurate data transmission by correcting duty cycle distortions, allowing for efficient communication of both high-speed payload and low-speed control data.
Implementation Method 1
the optical transceiver device converts high-speed electrical signals into high-speed optical signals provided on the optical Tx lane, and convert high-speed optical signals received on the optical Rx lane into high-speed electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
a laser configured to provide light on the optical Tx lane
Implementation Method 3
an optical detect pin operable to provide an indication as to light detected at the optical Rx lane
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
Optical engines and optical cable assemblies incorporating optical engines providing duty cycle correction on multiplexed low-speed signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical engine includes a low-speed Tx line, a low-speed Rx line, an optical transceiver device, and a control circuit. A low-speed Tx signal is transmitted on the low-speed Tx line and a low-speed Rx signal is received on the low-speed Rx line. The optical transceiver device further includes a laser control pin operable to control a laser configured to provide light on an optical Tx lane, and an optical detect pin operable to provide an indication as to light detected at an optical Rx lane. A Tx signal conditioning circuit configured to condition the low-speed Tx signal is coupled to the laser control pin, and/or a Rx signal conditioning circuit configured to condition the low-speed Rx signal is coupled to the optical detect pin.