Optical Receiver Amplifier and Reflector for WDM PON
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passive optical networks (PONs) with self-tuning WDM technology face challenges due to optical losses caused by reflective mirrors placed in the infrastructure, which also limit flexibility in using different transmission technologies and require active components for signal amplification, complicating the network infrastructure and reducing throughput.
Innovation Solution
A receiver device with an integrated optical amplifier and reflector, where the mirror is placed in the receiving device, allowing the optical signal to be amplified and reflected back for wavelength tuning without passing through the laser cavity, reducing optical losses and enabling self-tuning without active components in the PON infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reflective mirror is placed in the PON infrastructure for wavelength tuning, then wavelength self-tuning capability is achieved, but optical losses increase and signal range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective mirror is extracted from the PON infrastructure and relocated to the receiving device. This removes the source of optical losses from the passive network while preserving the wavelength tuning function at the receiving end, where the mirror operates in a controlled environment with amplified signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical signal is amplified before reaching the reflective mirror in the receiving device. This preliminary amplification ensures that the signal has sufficient power to withstand the reflection process and subsequent round trip, preventing the optical losses that would otherwise limit signal range.
2Loss of energy
If an active amplification component is added to the reflective mirror to compensate for optical losses, then signal power is maintained, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification function is merged with the existing receiving device architecture rather than being added as a separate active component in the PON infrastructure. The amplifier is integrated into the receiving device, which already requires active components for signal detection and processing, thereby avoiding additional infrastructure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving device performs its own signal amplification and wavelength tuning functions independently, without requiring active components to be distributed throughout the passive PON infrastructure. This self-service approach maintains signal power while keeping the overall system architecture simple and passive where possible.
3Power
If the reflective mirror is placed close to the OLT for easier power supply, then amplification is effective, but the laser cavity becomes too long for effective wavelength auto-tuning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the mirror near the OLT (transmitter side), the mirror is inverted to the receiving device side. This reversal of the conventional placement allows the laser cavity to remain short for effective wavelength tuning while still providing amplification, as the amplifier compensates for the longer optical path from the transmitter to the receiver.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a reflective device is placed on both sides of the multiplexer for bidirectional self-tuning, then both directions achieve wavelength tuning, but optical losses increase proportionally with path length
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device is designed to perform multiple functions: signal detection, signal amplification, wavelength tuning via reflection, and signal re-transmission. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate reflective devices in both directions, as each receiving device can handle bidirectional communication and tuning, thereby reducing the number of mirrors and associated optical losses.
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 configuration increases the signal range between transmitter and receiver, maintains wavelength self-tuning capability, and allows for mixed technology use without dedicating the entire PON to self-seeded technology, simplifying terminal manufacturing and reducing power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an optical amplifier for amplifying the optical signal received from the transmitting device
Implementation Method 2
the optical reflector configured to return the optical signal amplified by said optical amplifier to the transmitting device
Implementation Method 3
an optical detector adapted to detect data in the optical signal amplified by said optical amplifier
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a receiving device (Rx1_b) capable of receiving an optical signal emitted by an emitting device including a light source for emitting the optical signal, the optical signal being transmitted by a passive optical network having wavelength division multiplexing, the receiving device including: an optical amplifier (Amp_b) for amplifying the optical signal received from the emitting device; an optical detector (D_b) capable of detecting data in the amplified optical signal; an optical reflector (Ref_b) configured to return the amplified optical signal toward the emitting device, such as to tune the wavelength of the optical signal emitted by the emitting device by means of a round trip of the optical signal between the emitting device and the optical reflector.