Optical Power Control in Network Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical networks face challenges in maintaining optimal optical power levels due to varying path attenuation, ambient conditions, and equipment aging, leading to inefficient signal detection and potential overload, which affects the reliability and longevity of components like semiconductor lasers.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects optical power levels at network nodes, generates control signals to adjust transmitter power based on path attenuation, ensuring the power remains within a defined range, thereby optimizing optical power and preventing overloads while allowing for network diagnosis through software without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high optical power is emitted by the transmitter to ensure reliable signal detection, then signal detection reliability is improved, but receiver overload and transmitter lifetime are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving node measures the optical power of the received signal and sends control signals back to the transmitting node. Based on this feedback, the transmitting node adjusts its optical power output to maintain it within an optimal range, preventing both insufficient detection and receiver overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical power of the transmitter is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors the received optical power and adjusts the transmitter power in real-time to adapt to changing conditions such as path attenuation variations, ensuring optimal performance without overload.
2Reliability
If optical power is increased to compensate for path attenuation, then signal detection is improved, but energy consumption and transmitter stress are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Through the feedback mechanism, the system determines the actual path attenuation by measuring received optical power and adjusts the transmitter power accordingly. This ensures energy is only increased when necessary to compensate for actual attenuation, rather than maintaining high power continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical power parameter dynamically based on measured path attenuation. By adjusting this parameter to match actual network conditions, the system avoids unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining reliable signal detection.
3Device complexity
If fixed optical power is used in the transmitter, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying path attenuation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automatic optical power control. The transmitting node automatically adjusts its power based on feedback from the receiving node, eliminating the need for manual configuration or complex external control systems while maintaining high adaptability to varying path attenuation.
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 method ensures reliable signal detection, extends the lifespan of optical transmitters, and enhances network diagnosis by maintaining ideal optical power levels and detecting path attenuation changes, improving overall network reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The receiver converts the optical signal emitted by another network node into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for optimizing the optical power in an optical network that has a plurality of network nodes each having a transmitter and a receiver. The method comprising generating an optical signal at a first network node, receiving the optical signal at a second network node, detecting the optical power of the optical signal at the second network node, determining whether the optical power detected is outside a defined range, and in this case, generating, for the first network node, a control signal for increasing or decreasing the optical power, sending the control signal to the first network node, and increasing or decreasing the optical power of the optical signal emitted at the first network node. The invention further relates to an optical network having network nodes which are operable to implement this method.