Optical Quantizer Linear Interference Low Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical quantizers face challenges in reducing power consumption, as methods using non-linear optical effects and multiple optical or electronic devices require high power levels.
Innovation Solution
An optical quantizer that employs intensity modulation and spectrum shaping of sampling optical pulses, utilizing a phase shifter to create a predetermined phase difference for interference, allowing for low-power linear interference-based quantization without needing non-linear optical effects or high-power devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If non-linear optical effects such as self-frequency shifting are used for optical quantization, then optical quantization can be achieved, but power consumption becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces non-linear optical effects with linear optical interference. Instead of using high-power non-linear optical processes like self-frequency shifting, the invention uses linear interference between two optical pulses with different spectral shapes (one flat-top spectrum and one monotonically varying spectrum), achieving quantization through low-power interference patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameters of optical pulses by applying different shaping techniques. One pulse is shaped to have a flat-top spectrum while another has a monotonically varying spectrum. By controlling the phase difference between these shaped pulses, the system achieves quantization through interference without requiring high power levels
2Measurement precision
If multiple optical active devices or electronic devices are used in parallel for optical quantization, then quantization performance can be improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple quantization functions into a single interferometric setup. Instead of using multiple parallel optical active devices or electronic ADCs, the invention combines spectral shaping and quantization into one interference process, where two shaped optical pulses interfere to directly produce the quantization result
Solution Approach 2:
The optical pulses serve multiple functions: they carry the analog signal information, undergo spectral shaping, and through interference, perform both comparison and quantization simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each operation
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 significantly reduces power consumption to one-tenth of conventional methods, eliminating the need for parallel optical active devices and achieving low-cost, efficient optical quantization.
Implementation Method 1
a phase shifter which is included in one of the first shaping unit and the second shaping unit, and shifts a phase of optical pulses input to the one of the first shaping unit and the second shaping unit so that a phase difference between the first optical pulses and the second optical pulses becomes a predetermined phase difference
Implementation Method 2
an interference device which causes interference between the first optical pulses and the second optical pulses
Data Source
AI summary
An optical quantizer including: a first shaping unit which performs at least intensity modulation of the sampling optical pulses using an analog signal to generate first optical pulses having a spectrum in which intensity is flat in a spectrum axis direction; a second shaping unit which performs spectrum shaping of the sampling optical pulses to generate second optical pulses having a spectrum in which intensity increases or decreases monotonously in the spectrum axis direction; a phase shifter which shifts a phase of optical pulses input to one of the first shaping unit and the second shaping unit so that a phase difference between the first optical pulses and the second optical pulses becomes a predetermined phase difference; an interference device which causes interference between the first optical pulses and the second optical pulses; and a wavelength demultiplexer which demultiplexes optical pulses output from the interference device into light of wavebands.