Optical Signal Processing Apparatus Parallel Power Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-scale optical switches, the variation in film quality and peripheral optical circuits leads to inconsistent optical characteristics, requiring individual adjustment of power supply voltage or current for each phase shifter, resulting in increased cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A configuration where multiple phase shifters in an optical signal processing device are connected in parallel to a common power driving unit, with electrical switches to control their connection, allowing simultaneous driving with a constant voltage or current, reducing the number of power driving units needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual power supply units are used for each phase shifter to correct variations in optical characteristics, then optical performance consistency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple phase shifters are electrically connected in parallel to a single common power supply unit, merging the power supply function from multiple individual units into one shared unit. This reduces the number of power supply units while maintaining the ability to independently control each phase shifter through separate control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The control signal is segmented into multiple independent control signals, each directed to a specific phase shifter connected in parallel to the common power supply. This allows individual adjustment of each phase shifter's operation while sharing the power supply, resolving the contradiction between consistency and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of phase shifters is increased to achieve larger switch scale, then switching capability is improved, but the number of power supply units and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single common power supply unit is designed to serve multiple phase shifters simultaneously through parallel electrical connections. This universal power supply approach allows the system to scale to larger switch sizes without proportionally increasing the number of power supply units, as one power supply can support many phase shifters.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply function is merged from multiple individual units into one common unit that serves all phase shifters. This consolidation allows the system to expand in scale while maintaining a constant or slowly growing number of power supply units, improving scalability.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual control of power supply voltage or current is implemented for each phase shifter, then optical characteristic adjustment is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply function is merged into a single common unit that provides power to multiple phase shifters in parallel. This reduces the bill of materials and assembly costs associated with multiple individual power supply units, while the control system maintains individual adjustability through separate control signals for each phase shifter.
Solution Approach 2:
The common power supply unit automatically distributes appropriate power levels to each phase shifter based on received control signals, eliminating the need for manual individual adjustment during manufacturing. This self-adjusting capability reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining optical characteristic precision.
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 reduces the number of power driving units required, improving mass productivity and lowering costs by sharing power among phase shifters, while maintaining consistent optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
a switch state is changed by a phase shifter using a thermo-optical effect
Implementation Method 2
An optical waveguide is a technology for confining light in a minute region and controlling the light so that functions are expressed
Data Source
AI summary
In order to reduce the number of power driving elements, an optical signal processing device includes a control unit, a current generation unit, a connection portion, and an optical signal processing unit, the current generation unit includes one or a plurality of power driving elements s, the optical signal processing unit is an optical waveguide on a substrate, and a plurality of driven elements are connected in parallel to an identical one of the plurality of power driving elements and are driven.