Optical Node Pixel Architecture for Independent Wavelength Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical node devices, particularly those using reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) devices with wavelength selective switches (WSS), face challenges in improving signal-to-noise ratio and increasing channel capacity while maintaining efficient and cost-effective operation.
Innovation Solution
An optical node device incorporating a liquid crystal display device with specific transistor configurations and a dispersive element, along with a lens, to spatially disperse and reflect light of different wavelengths, allowing independent operation and routing of wavelength channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a WSS with spatial light modulator is used for routing wavelength channels, then the S/N ratio and channel capacity can be improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical node device into multiple independent wavelength channel processing units, where each pixel or pixel group independently processes a specific wavelength channel. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple wavelengths while keeping each processing unit relatively simple, thus improving S/N ratio through dedicated processing without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the liquid crystal display device to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the spatial light modulator for wavelength routing and as the display/control interface. The same hardware structure handles both optical modulation and signal control, reducing the need for separate dedicated components and thereby lowering device complexity while maintaining high S/N ratio performance.
2Quantity of substance
If a WSS with spatial light modulator is used for routing wavelength channels, then the channel capacity can be increased, but the device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelength channel processing functions into a single integrated liquid crystal display device structure. Instead of using separate modulators for each wavelength channel, the invention merges all channel processing into one device with independently controllable pixels, significantly reducing component count and cost while maintaining high channel capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal display device is designed to handle multiple wavelength channels simultaneously through its array of independently controllable pixels. Each pixel can be assigned to different wavelengths dynamically, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple channel routing functions, thereby increasing channel capacity without proportionally increasing device cost.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple independent wavelength channels are processed, then the channel capacity increases, but the optical element requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wavelength processing function across multiple independently controllable pixels within the liquid crystal display device. Each pixel or pixel group can be assigned to process a specific wavelength channel, allowing high channel capacity to be achieved through software/control configuration rather than through additional physical optical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal display device serves as a universal optical processing platform that can handle multiple wavelength channels simultaneously. The same physical device structure performs the work of what would traditionally require multiple separate optical modulators, thereby increasing channel capacity while reducing the number of required optical elements.
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
Enhances signal-to-noise ratio and channel capacity by enabling independent processing of wavelength channels, reducing optical complexity and cost through shared optical elements, and facilitating downsizing.
Implementation Method 1
a dispersive element configured to spatially disperse light of each wavelength included in the incident light according to the wavelength
Implementation Method 2
a lens configured to condenses the light of each wavelength dispersed by the dispersive element onto a surface of the liquid crystal display device per wavelength
Implementation Method 3
output light of each wavelength reflected by the liquid crystal display device toward the dispersive element
Data Source
AI summary
An optical node device including a liquid crystal display device with pixels having a first transistor between a positive-polarity pixel data line and a first holding capacitor with a gate for a row scan signal, a second transistor between a negative-polarity pixel data line and a second holding capacitor with a gate for the row scan signal, a fifth transistor between a pixel electrode and a first source follower circuit where a voltage from the first holding capacitor is input with a gate for a first control signal, and a sixth transistor between the pixel electrode and a second source follower circuit where a voltage from the second holding capacitor is input with a gate for a second control signal turned on alternately with the first control signal. The fifth and sixth transistors have a threshold voltage different from that of other transistors of a first conductivity type.