Optical Injection Locking for Multi-Source Laser Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coherent optical systems require high-performance lasers for generating optical sources, which are costly and space-consuming, and low-cost lasers do not produce sufficient quality optical signals, degrading system performance.
Innovation Solution
Implement a coherent optical injection locking (COIL) system using a high-performance parent laser to injection lock multiple low-cost child lasers, replicating optical characteristics such as phase, wavelength, and linewidth, thereby reducing costs and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple high-performance lasers are used to generate optical sources, then optical signal quality is improved, but system cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single high-performance parent laser to generate optical signals that are distributed to multiple child lasers. The child lasers replicate the parent laser's optical characteristics (wavelength, linewidth, phase coherence) to produce multiple high-quality optical sources without requiring multiple expensive high-performance lasers, thereby reducing system space and cost while maintaining signal quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the optical source generation function into a parent laser unit and multiple child laser units. The parent laser generates the master optical signal, which is then distributed to child lasers that locally replicate the signal. This segmentation allows one high-performance laser to serve multiple functions across different locations, reducing the need for multiple high-performance lasers in the same system
2Reliability
If multiple high-performance lasers are used to generate optical sources, then optical signal quality is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single high-performance parent laser to generate optical signals that are distributed to multiple child lasers. The child lasers replicate the parent laser's optical characteristics (wavelength, linewidth, phase coherence) to produce multiple high-quality optical sources without requiring multiple expensive high-performance lasers, thereby reducing system space and cost while maintaining signal quality
Solution Approach 2:
The parent laser performs multiple functions by serving as the optical source for multiple child lasers simultaneously. One parent laser can support numerous child lasers across different network nodes, making the high-performance laser resource universally utilized rather than requiring dedicated high-performance lasers at each location, thus reducing overall system cost
3Quantity of substance
If low-cost lasers are used to generate optical sources, then system cost is reduced, but optical signal quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The parent laser acts as an intermediary that transfers its high-quality optical characteristics to the child lasers through optical injection locking. The parent laser's output serves as the injection signal that controls the child lasers' operation, enabling low-cost child lasers to produce high-quality optical signals by following the parent laser's wavelength, phase, and linewidth characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The optical injection locking mechanism provides a form of feedback where the parent laser's optical signal continuously controls the child lasers' output characteristics. The child lasers are locked to the parent laser's frequency and phase through the injection signal, ensuring that any drift or variation in the child laser is corrected by the persistent influence of the parent laser's high-quality optical signal
4Area of stationary object
If a single high-performance laser is used to injection lock multiple child lasers, then system cost and space are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical source generation function into a hierarchical structure where one parent laser controls multiple child lasers through optical injection locking. This consolidation reduces the total number of high-performance lasers needed while the injection locking mechanism provides a standardized method for maintaining signal quality across all child lasers, managing complexity through a uniform control approach
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 COIL system effectively generates multiple high-quality optical sources at reduced cost and size, enhancing the performance of coherent optical systems by using a single high-performance laser to drive many low-cost child lasers, achieving cost-effective and efficient optical signal distribution.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting the single optical source over a fiber cable to a fiber node
Implementation Method 2
generating at least two first optical sources using first coherent optical injection locking (COIL) within the fiber node, each of the at least two first optical sources having the same phase, wavelength, wavelength stability, and linewidth as the optical source
Data Source
AI summary
A coherent optical injection locking (COIL) apparatus generates multiple optical source outputs from a single optical source generated by a parent laser. The COIL apparatus includes a plurality of optical source generators each having a child laser, of lesser performance than the parent laser, that is injection locked to the single optical source. The optical source generators may have one or both of a shared configuration and a cascaded configuration that replicates the single optical source, or a single wavelength of the single optical source when it is a comb source.