Optical Modem Power Saving via Intermittent Laser Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical modems consume high power due to the continuous operation of multiple lasers, which reduces battery life during power outages and lacks power-saving modes, unlike DOCSIS cable modems, leading to increased energy consumption and limited operational duration.
Innovation Solution
Implementing power-saving modes in optical modems by intermittently powering lasers, reducing the number of active lasers, and powering down receivers, allowing for scheduled operation to conserve energy, while maintaining device availability for voice calls and data transmission during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple lasers are continuously powered on to support upstream communications, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by transitioning lasers between active and sleep states based on communication needs. During idle periods, lasers are placed in sleep mode to conserve power, while being activated periodically when upstream communication is required. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by maintaining communication reliability when needed while reducing power consumption during idle times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the laser power state adjustable and adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically transitions between full power mode (all lasers active), reduced power mode (some lasers active), and standby mode (lasers in sleep state) based on real-time communication requirements and battery status, resolving the contradiction between reliability and power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all lasers are powered on simultaneously to support multi-wavelength upstream communication, then communication capability is improved, but battery duration during power outages is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the laser array into multiple independent groups that can be activated selectively. Instead of powering all lasers simultaneously, the system segments them and activates only the necessary subset based on current communication requirements, thereby extending battery duration while maintaining adequate upstream communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting the operational state of lasers between full power, reduced power, and sleep modes. This allows the system to modify power consumption parameters dynamically while maintaining the ability to provide full communication capability when needed, thus extending battery duration without permanently sacrificing communication adaptability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If lasers are powered down to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but device availability for emergency communications is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the system with multiple laser groups and establishing wake-up protocols before power outages occur. The system prepares by segmenting lasers into standby and active groups, and sets up automatic activation triggers for emergency detection, ensuring that device availability is rapidly restored when needed while maintaining reduced power consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor communication status, battery level, and emergency conditions. This feedback enables the system to automatically adjust laser power states, activating them when emergency conditions are detected and returning to power-saving mode when stable, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and device availability.
4Loss of energy
If receiver circuitry is powered down to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but signal detection capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action to receiver circuitry by cycling between active and powered-down states. Receivers are activated periodically to detect incoming signals and then powered down during idle periods, improving energy efficiency while maintaining signal detection capability when needed through scheduled activation cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A customer premises device including an optical modem including at least one upstream laser is power controlled to provide one or more reduced power levels of service in response to a detected AC input power failure, and/or in response to control commands, e.g., from an optical line terminal (OLT). The commands control the customer premises device to switch to a reduced power consumption mode of operation. During the reduced power mode one or a few lasers are powered, e.g., on an intermittent but predictable basis. During normal operation mode each of the upstream lasers are powered. One or more receiver circuits are also powered off during reduced power mode operation in some embodiments. A schedule is used in some embodiments to control when one or more upstream lasers and/or receivers are powered. In some embodiments the schedule is determined based on information provided by the OLT.