Optical Repeater Light Distribution for Odd Source Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical communication systems, particularly in submarine cable systems, the inclusion of an odd number of excitation light sources in optical repeaters leads to inefficient voltage consumption due to the need to terminate a part of the optical amplifier, resulting in wasted electric power.
Innovation Solution
The optical repeater design includes at least n units, where n is an odd number equal to or more than 3, each unit comprising an excitation light source, optical demultiplexers, and optical multiplexers. This configuration allows for the efficient distribution and multiplexing of excitation light without terminating any part of the optical amplifier, thereby minimizing voltage consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If an odd number of excitation light sources are used in optical repeaters, then the number of light sources is reduced, but electric power is wasted due to termination of optical amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides excitation light distribution into multiple independent paths using demultiplexers, allowing each optical amplifier to receive dedicated excitation light from appropriate light sources. This segmentation enables flexible pairing of light sources and amplifiers, eliminating the need to terminate amplifiers when using an odd number of light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Each excitation light source is designed to serve multiple potential destinations through the demultiplexer network, and each optical amplifier can receive excitation light from multiple possible sources. This multi-functionality allows any light source to potentially excite any amplifier, enabling efficient utilization of an odd number of light sources without power waste.
2Power
If multiple excitation light sources are used for signal amplification, then signal amplification capability is improved, but voltage drop in the optical repeater increases
Solution Approach 1:
Optical demultiplexers and multiplexers serve as intermediary devices that efficiently route excitation light from multiple light sources to multiple optical amplifiers. This intermediary structure enables power-efficient light distribution without requiring high voltage, thereby maintaining signal amplification capability while reducing voltage drop in the repeater.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic light routing through controllable demultiplexers that can flexibly allocate excitation light to different amplifiers based on operational needs. This dynamic allocation optimizes power usage and reduces unnecessary voltage drops while maintaining required signal amplification levels.
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 design effectively suppresses voltage consumption in optical repeaters with an odd number of excitation light sources, preventing the wastage of electric power and ensuring reliable signal amplification even if some excitation light sources fail, thus securing redundancy.
Implementation Method 1
the first optical demultiplexer demultiplexes excitation light from the excitation light source into 1:n−1
Implementation Method 2
the first optical multiplexer multiplexes, into a single piece of excitation light, excitation light being input by each of the optical demultiplexers
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of optical amplifiers are provided, and each of the plurality of optical amplifiers is configured to amplify a signal optical input
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an optical repeater and an optical communication system that suppress voltage consumption when an odd number of light sources are provided. An optical repeater according to the present disclosure includes at least n units being an odd number equal to or more than 3, wherein the n units each include an excitation light source, a first optical demultiplexer, a second optical demultiplexer, a first optical multiplexer, and a second optical multiplexer, the first optical demultiplexer demultiplexes excitation light from the excitation light source into 1:n−1, the second optical demultiplexer demultiplexes, into n−1 pieces of excitation light, excitation light demultiplexed by the first optical demultiplexer with a ratio of n−1, the second optical demultiplexer further outputs excitation light demultiplexed to each of the first optical multiplexers belonging to n−1 units other than a unit to which the second optical demultiplexer belongs.