Optical Interrupters for Fast Protection Switching in Passive Couplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical network protection systems face challenges such as slow protection switch times, requirement for direct communication paths between transponder equipment, and inability to support protected configurations across multiple shelves due to limitations in laser control and coordination mechanisms, especially with higher-speed pluggable transceivers and passive optical switch devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical interrupters within optical switching devices with passive optical couplers allows for independent control of optical signals, eliminating the need for direct communication between transponders and enabling faster protection switch times by blocking and allowing signals through interrupters rather than relying on laser control, thus supporting flexible configurations and reducing processing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser control mechanisms are used for protection switching in conventional optical networks, then protection switching can be implemented, but protection switch times exceed 50 ms due to slow laser-on/laser-off times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional laser control mechanism (which involves serial I2C control of multiple lanes) with an optical switch-based mechanism. The optical switch uses optical signals to control optical paths, eliminating the need for serial laser control and achieving much faster switching times (sub-50 ms) by using parallel optical control instead of serial electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from electrical signal control (I2C bus control of lasers) to optical signal control (optical switch control). This parameter change enables simultaneous control of multiple optical paths in parallel, reducing the protection switch time from exceeding 50 ms to sub-50 ms by changing the fundamental control domain from electrical to optical.
2Reliability
If direct communication paths are established between transponder equipment for coordination, then protection switching coordination is enabled, but equipment placement is constrained to co-located positions with specific slot assignments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical switch as an intermediary device that mediates between transponder equipment. Instead of requiring direct communication paths between transponders, the optical switch receives control signals and coordinates the optical paths. This intermediary approach enables transponders to be placed in different locations (different shelves, different slots) while still achieving coordinated protection switching through the optical switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protection switching function from the transponder equipment itself and places it in a dedicated optical switch device. This segmentation allows the transponder equipment to be independently placed in various slots and shelves without requiring direct communication paths between them, while the optical switch handles the coordination function separately.
3Speed
If multi-lane interfaces are used for higher-speed pluggable transceivers, then data transmission rate is improved, but protection switching becomes slower due to serial control of each lane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the serial electronic control mechanism (I2C control of each lane sequentially) with an optical control mechanism. The optical switch uses optical signals to control multiple optical paths simultaneously, eliminating the serial control bottleneck. This allows multi-lane interfaces to operate at high data transmission rates while achieving fast protection switching by using parallel optical control instead of serial electronic control.
4Device complexity
If passive optical couplers are used instead of optical switches, then device cost and complexity are reduced, but protection switching functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the passive optical coupler with an optical switch in a hybrid device. The passive optical coupler provides the basic optical signal combining function with low complexity, while the integrated optical switch provides the protection switching capability. This merging allows the device to maintain the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of passive devices while adding the necessary active switching functionality for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional device that combines the passive optical coupler functionality with active optical switch functionality. The device can operate in both passive mode (simple signal combining) and active mode (protection switching), making it universally applicable to different scenarios. This multi-functionality allows the device to provide protection switching capabilities without requiring separate dedicated devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical protection devices are provided for protecting client equipment in an optical communication system. According to one implementation, a protection device includes a passive optical coupler configured to combine optical signals from a plurality of input paths, where the passive optical coupler is further configured to provide the output signals along an optical output path. The exemplary protection device further includes one or more interrupters configured to allow at most one input from a plurality of optical inputs via the plurality of input paths to be provided to the passive optical coupler at one time.