Optical Switching Attenuation Control for Surge Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical transmission line switching apparatuses face issues with power changes and optical surges during switching between active and backup systems, leading to potential interruptions and damage to downstream receivers, and require specialized amplifiers that are not compatible with systems using ordinary optical amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
An optical transmission line switching apparatus with input power monitors, variable optical attenuators, a multiplexer, and a controller that sets thresholds and adjusts attenuation to gradually change power levels, preventing sudden power changes and maintaining stable output power during switching between active and backup systems without the need for special amplifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical transmission line switching apparatus switches between active and backup systems, then switching capability is provided, but power changes occur causing optical surges that may damage downstream receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by gradually increasing the attenuation of the backup optical transmission line before switching occurs. The attenuation control unit increases attenuation of the backup line in advance, so that when switching happens, the power change is minimized and optical surge is prevented. This preparatory adjustment ensures the backup line is ready to take over without causing harmful power fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the attenuation of optical transmission lines adjustable and changeable over time. The attenuation control unit dynamically modifies the attenuation characteristics of both active and backup lines during the switching process, transitioning from static to dynamic control to manage power changes smoothly and prevent optical surges.
2Reliability
If conventional switching apparatus switches between optical transmission lines, then backup redundancy is utilized, but downstream optical power changes temporarily causing transmission characteristic degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the attenuation of the backup optical transmission line before switching occurs. The attenuation control unit gradually increases attenuation of the backup line in advance, ensuring that when the switch to backup happens, the power change is minimized and transmission characteristics remain stable without degradation.
3Reliability
If optical transmission lines are switched between active and backup systems, then system reliability is improved, but instantaneous interruption of light rays may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by ensuring that the attenuation adjustment during switching is gradual and continuous rather than abrupt. The attenuation control unit continuously modifies the attenuation of the backup line while the active line is still operational, maintaining continuous light transmission throughout the switching process and preventing instantaneous interruption.
4Reliability
If conventional switching is performed, then switching between transmission lines is achieved, but special optical amplifiers are required which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the optical transmission line switching apparatus to control its own attenuation characteristics through the attenuation control unit. The system self-regulates the power levels of both active and backup lines during switching, eliminating the need for external special optical amplifiers and reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable switching functionality.
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
The solution effectively suppresses power changes and maintains stable signal power during switching, preventing interruptions and optical surges, and is applicable to systems with ordinary optical amplifiers, enhancing the reliability of optical transmission systems.
Implementation Method 1
first variable optical attenuators 13a and 13b, respectively, adapted to attenuate and output the signal light rays input from the optical transmission lines
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3(b)
Figure 4
AI summary
A device includes a threshold setting unit that sets a threshold for an input optical power monitor to detect the input optical power to the optical transmission line of an active system; a threshold deciding unit that decides whether the input optical power to the optical transmission line of the active system detected by the input optical power monitor is not greater than the threshold set by the threshold setting unit or not; and an attenuation controller that carries out, when the threshold deciding unit decides that the input optical power is not greater than the threshold, system switching by controlling first variable optical attenuators so as to gradually reduce attenuation of the signal light rays input from the optical transmission line of one backup system, and to gradually increase attenuation of the signal light rays input from the optical transmission line of the active system.