Optical Signal Source Phase Modulation Spectral Broadening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical signal sources and ground terminal optical transmission systems for space-to-ground and ground-to-space communications are costly and complex, requiring multiple expensive components for spectral broadening and beam control, which leads to inefficiencies and high losses.
Innovation Solution
An optical signal source and ground terminal system utilizing a seed laser, phase modulator, RF drive signal apparatus, control apparatus, and a band-stop optical filter, such as a fibre Bragg grating or long-period fibre grating, to achieve spectral broadening and beam control with reduced components, enabling efficient suppression of unwanted wavelengths and amplitude modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple expensive components are used for spectral broadening and beam control, then the system can achieve reliable optical transmission, but the cost and complexity of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated optical signal source device. The seed laser, phase modulator, RF drive signal apparatus, control apparatus, and band-stop optical filter are merged into one unified system that generates and transmits optical beacon signals, eliminating the need for separate components for spectral broadening and beam control.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical signal source is designed as a multi-functional device that performs spectral broadening, beam control, and optical signal transmission simultaneously. The phase modulator serves both to broaden the spectral linewidth and to control the beam characteristics, while the band-stop filter integrates wavelength selection and signal purification functions.
2Reliability
If multiple expensive components are used for spectral broadening and beam control, then the system can achieve reliable optical transmission, but the cost of the system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated optical signal source device. The seed laser, phase modulator, RF drive signal apparatus, control apparatus, and band-stop optical filter are merged into one unified system that generates and transmits optical beacon signals, eliminating the need for separate components for spectral broadening and beam control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs commercially available, relatively low-cost components such as standard seed lasers, off-the-shelf phase modulators, and fiber Bragg grating filters. By using readily available components rather than custom-built expensive equipment, the system achieves reliable optical transmission at a lower manufacturing cost.
3Productivity
If conventional optical signal sources are used, then the system can transmit optical signals, but losses increase due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated optical signal source device. The seed laser, phase modulator, RF drive signal apparatus, control apparatus, and band-stop optical filter are merged into one unified system that generates and transmits optical beacon signals, eliminating the need for separate components for spectral broadening and beam control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary intermediate components from conventional optical transmission systems. By using an integrated design where the phase modulator directly modulates the seed laser output and the band-stop filter directly processes the modulated signal, the system eliminates redundant optical couplers, isolators, and amplifiers that would otherwise introduce additional losses.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An optical signal source (100) comprising: a seed laser (102) for generating a seed laser signal; a phase modulator, PM, (104); radio frequency, RF, drive signal apparatus (106) to provide an RF drive signal to the PM in response to a control signal; a control apparatus (108) to provide a control signal for causing the RF drive signal apparatus to vary the RF drive signal, the PM is operative to apply phase modulation to the seed laser signal to form a broadened laser signal having a second spectral linewidth, broader than the first spectral linewidth, of up to 120GHz; and a band-stop optical filter (110), after the PM, having a stop band configured to reject wavelength corresponding to the first optical spectrum, such that when the control signal is on an output laser signal is formed comprising the second optical spectrum with at least the first optical spectrum substantially removed and when the control signal is off there is substantially no output laser signal.