Optical Transmission System Phase-Based Path Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical networks, existing technologies face challenges in accurately controlling optical signal paths due to band constraints and wavelength dependence, leading to signal distortion and noise addition, especially when demultiplexing optical signals for each wavelength.
Innovation Solution
An optical transmission system that uses directional couplers to control optical signal paths based on carrier phase differences, eliminating the need for wavelength demultiplexing and allowing for fine-granularity path selection without band constraints, using multiple optical transmitters and directional couplers to manage optical signals with the same wavelength but different carrier phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wavelength demultiplexing is used to control optical signal paths, then path control capability is improved, but signal distortion occurs due to frequency flatness loss and bandwidth constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength selection function from the path control function. Instead of using wavelength demultiplexing devices that inherently limit bandwidth and frequency flatness, the invention separates path control from wavelength filtering, allowing full-bandwidth signals to be routed without spectral distortion while maintaining path control capability through spatial switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical signal handling into separate functional components: wavelength-agnostic path routing is separated from wavelength-specific filtering operations. This allows the main transmission path to operate without bandwidth constraints while wavelength selection can be applied selectively at specific network nodes where demultiplexing is actually required
2Adaptability or versatility
If wavelength selection devices are used for path control, then path routing capability is improved, but transmission bandwidth is limited by device constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal path control mechanism that handles all wavelengths simultaneously without requiring wavelength-specific routing decisions. The optical switch or matrix device is designed to route optical signals based on spatial paths rather than wavelength, making the routing infrastructure universally applicable across the entire transmission bandwidth and eliminating the need for multiple wavelength-specific switching paths
3Measurement precision
If demultiplexing for each wavelength is implemented, then path control precision is improved, but noise addition occurs and equalization becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical switching mechanism that operates in the optical domain without converting to electrical signals for processing. This optical intermediary maintains signal integrity by avoiding analog-to-digital conversion and subsequent digital signal processing operations that add noise, while still providing precise path control through optical beam steering or mechanical switching mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An optical transmission system includes an optical transmitter configured to generate a plurality of optical signals encoded and modulated with the same client data being carriers with the same wavelength, and having different carrier phases, and output the plurality of generated optical signals using a plurality of optical transmitter output ports, each of the optical transmitter output ports corresponding to one of the plurality of optical signals, and one or a plurality of first directional couplers including a plurality of first input ports, each of the first input port connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of optical transmitter output ports.