Coherent Optical Transceiver Pre-Distortion and Polarization Interleaving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coherent optical transmission systems face limitations due to nonlinearity in optical fibers and polarization multiplexing, which restrict spectral efficiency and reach, especially with fixed bit-per-symbol modulation formats.

Innovation Solution

The system employs polarization interleaving and pre-distortion techniques to customize bit-per-symbol rates and reduce non-linear distortion by interleaving symbols across time and polarization dimensions, and adding chromatic dispersion to smooth energy distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If fixed bit-per-symbol modulation formats are used, then device complexity is reduced, but spectral efficiency is limited to fixed increments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransceiver implementation complexityVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The data stream is segmented into multiple substreams, each modulated with a different modulation format (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM). This allows the system to achieve variable spectral efficiency by combining different modulation schemes rather than being constrained to a single fixed format, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the modulation format for each substream based on channel conditions and traffic demands. This dynamic adaptation enables spectral efficiency to vary continuously rather than in fixed increments, while the underlying transceiver architecture remains relatively simple and standardized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If high data rates are transmitted through optical fiber, then productivity is improved, but nonlinearity in the optical fiber path increases and limits transmission reach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidoptical fiber nonlinearity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies pre-distortion to the modulated signals before transmission to counteract the expected nonlinear effects in the optical fiber. By introducing compensating distortions in advance, the system mitigates the harmful nonlinearities that would otherwise limit transmission reach at high data rates, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Productivity

If polarization multiplexing is used to increase capacity, then spectral efficiency is improved, but intensity fluctuations in orthogonal polarization cause nonlinearities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidnonlinearities from polarization intensity fluctuations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different modulation formats to different polarization substreams, optimizing each locally according to channel conditions. This local optimization reduces the impact of intensity fluctuations in any single polarization, thereby mitigating nonlinearities while maintaining high transmission capacity through polarization multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhances spectral efficiency and extends the reach of coherent optical transmissions by mitigating non-linear effects, allowing for more flexible and efficient data transmission.

Implementation Method 1

The pre-distortion filter may be used to add a predetermined amount of chromatic dispersion to the modulated data to pre-distort the signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChromatic dispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentEP3114779B1Optimization of optical transmission capacity
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3114779B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3114779B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3114779B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for transmitting a coherent optical data signal includes receiving a data signal from an interface, and encoding the data signal with a forward error correcting (FEC) encoder according to a mix of modulation formats. The FEC encoder generates an FEC encoded signal which is used to generate modulation symbols according to the modulation formats. The FEC encoded signal of modulation symbols is spectrally shaped to generate a shaped signal, and pre-distorted before transmission. The shaped signal is pre-distorted by adding a predetermined amount of chromatic dispersion to generate a smoothed signal, and the smoothed signal is transmitted according to the modulation formats.