Optical Path Identification Using Return Light in Submarine Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical submarine cable systems, identifying switched optical paths without incorporating a transmission/reception mechanism into the optical path switching device is challenging due to the difficulty in repairing and replacing the device, which is installed on the sea bottom.
Innovation Solution
An optical path identification device that utilizes return light information indicating a time change in intensity from Rayleigh scattering to identify the switched optical path, without requiring a transmission/reception mechanism in the optical path switching device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a transmission/reception mechanism is incorporated into the optical path switching device to enable identification of switched optical paths, then identification capability is improved, but device complexity and failure probability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The identification function is extracted from the optical path switching device and relocated to the land station. The switching device only performs optical path switching based on control signals, while the land station performs identification by analyzing return light from the optical paths. This separation removes the transmission/reception mechanism from the submarine device, reducing its complexity and failure probability.
Solution Approach 2:
Return light serves as an intermediary carrier to convey optical path identification information. Instead of requiring direct transmission/reception of identification signals between the switching device and land station, the system uses naturally occurring return light (from Rayleigh scattering or other sources) as a mediator to carry path characteristics that can be analyzed for identification.
2Measurement precision
If a transmission/reception mechanism is incorporated into the optical path switching device, then optical path identification is enabled, but reliability decreases due to higher failure probability
Solution Approach 1:
The identification function is extracted from the optical path switching device and relocated to the land station. The switching device only performs optical path switching based on control signals, while the land station performs identification by analyzing return light from the optical paths. This separation removes the transmission/reception mechanism from the submarine device, reducing its complexity and failure probability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the optical paths themselves to provide identification information through return light characteristics. Instead of requiring the switching device to actively transmit identification signals, the optical paths naturally provide distinguishing characteristics through return light that can be analyzed by the land station, making the identification process self-service and eliminating additional components.
3Ease of repair
If repair and replacement of the optical path switching device on the sea bottom is required, then maintenance capability is improved, but system availability decreases due to difficulty of access
Solution Approach 1:
The identification function is extracted from the optical path switching device and relocated to the land station. The switching device only performs optical path switching based on control signals, while the land station performs identification by analyzing return light from the optical paths. This separation removes the transmission/reception mechanism from the submarine device, reducing its complexity and failure probability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention discards the conventional approach of incorporating active identification components in the submarine switching device. Instead, it recovers and utilizes naturally occurring return light from the optical paths themselves as the identification medium, eliminating the need for complex transmission/reception mechanisms that would require maintenance.
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
Enables the identification of switched optical paths without the need for a transmission/reception mechanism, enhancing reliability by avoiding complex configurations and facilitating maintenance in challenging underwater environments.
Implementation Method 1
return light information being information indicating a time change in intensity of return light
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide an optical path identification device and the like whereby it is possible to identify a switched optical path without incorporating a transceiver mechanism into an optical path switching device, this optical path identification device is provided with: an optical path identification unit that identifies whether a connected optical path connected to a first optical path is any of a plurality of optical paths from return light information regarding inspection light transmitted to the first optical path and representing the change in intensity over time of return light from the connected optical path; and an output unit for outputting the identification result.