Optical Port Switching With Light Harvesting for Remote Module Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive optical networks face challenges in achieving higher reliability, energy efficiency, and lower costs, particularly in managing power consumption and protection switching in remote modules without additional hardware or complexity.
Innovation Solution
An optical apparatus with input and output ports, energy harvesters, and optical components that dynamically adjust light fractions for energy harvesting and distribution, enabling efficient power management and protection switching by varying the fraction of light directed to energy harvesters and output ports based on input light intensity and mode changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a fixed fraction of light is directed to energy harvesters, then energy harvesting is simplified, but power consumption cannot be optimized during low traffic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The optical components are configured to dynamically adjust the fraction of light directed to energy harvesters based on traffic load conditions. During low traffic loads, the system increases the light fraction to energy harvesters to maximize power generation, while during high traffic loads, it reduces the fraction to prioritize signal transmission. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptive power consumption optimization without requiring permanent structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical parameter (light fraction distribution) between different operating modes. By switching between a first mode (low traffic) where a larger fraction of light goes to energy harvesters, and a second mode (high traffic) where a smaller fraction goes to energy harvesters, the system optimizes power consumption according to traffic conditions. This parameter change approach allows the same optical components to serve dual purposes under different conditions.
2Power
If more light is directed to energy harvesters, then power generation increases, but signal quality to output ports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the light distribution fraction between energy harvesters and output ports based on traffic load requirements. During low traffic periods, it directs more light to energy harvesters to maximize power generation when signal demands are low. During high traffic periods, it redirects more light to output ports to maintain signal quality when transmission demands increase. This temporal separation of optimization goals resolves the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical components periodically switch between different operating modes based on traffic conditions. The system transitions between a first operating mode (favoring power generation) and a second operating mode (favoring signal transmission) according to the periodic variations in traffic load. This periodic adaptation allows the system to achieve both high power generation and high signal quality at different times, resolving the apparent contradiction.
3Reliability
If additional hardware is added for protection switching, then network reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical components are designed to perform multiple functions: they direct light to both energy harvesters and output ports, and simultaneously enable protection switching between different input ports. By making the optical components universal and multi-functional, the system achieves improved network reliability through protection switching without adding separate dedicated hardware for each function. The same optical components adapt their configuration to provide both power harvesting and protection switching capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its existing optical components and energy harvesting infrastructure to provide protection switching functionality without requiring external control hardware or additional power sources. The optical components self-adjust their configuration based on input light intensity and operational mode, enabling automatic protection switching. This self-service approach improves reliability while avoiding the complexity and cost of additional control hardware.
4Loss of energy
If the fraction of light to energy harvesters is increased, then energy efficiency improves, but the fraction of light to output ports decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between different operational modes based on traffic load patterns. During low traffic periods, it adopts a configuration that maximizes energy efficiency by directing a larger fraction of light to energy harvesters. During high traffic periods, it switches to a configuration that maximizes light transmission capacity to output ports. This periodic adaptation to changing conditions allows the system to achieve both high energy efficiency and high productivity at different times, resolving the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical distribution parameters dynamically based on operational requirements. By adjusting the light fraction allocation between energy harvesters and output ports according to traffic conditions, the system optimizes the balance between energy efficiency and transmission capacity. This parameter change strategy enables the same physical system to achieve different optimization goals under different operating conditions.
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
This approach allows for reduced power consumption during low traffic loads and efficient protection switching with minimal signal loss, leveraging energy harvesting to power remote modules and maintaining network performance.
Implementation Method 1
one or more optical components configured to: direct a first fraction of light input to a first input port to the one or more energy harvesters
Implementation Method 2
the one or more energy harvesters configured to harvest energy directed to the energy harvesters by the one or more optical components
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical apparatus comprising a first input port, two or more output ports, one or more energy harvesters, and one or more optical components and a method for operating said optical apparatus are described, the method comprising: operating in a first mode comprising: harvesting using the one or more energy harvesters a first fraction of light input to the first input port; and directing a second fraction of light input to the first input port to the two or more output ports; and operating in a second mode, wherein the first fraction when operating in the first mode is bigger than the first fraction when operating in the second mode; and the second fraction when operating in the first mode is smaller than the second fraction when operating in the second mode.