Optical Transceiver Clock Sync via Dual Delayed OSC Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical communication networks face challenges in providing uninterrupted clock synchronization, especially with the increased demands of 5G and next-generation wireless communication systems, due to limitations in the OSC/OTDR module's ability to maintain accurate clock synchronization over high-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
The optical transceiver employs a configuration with a first and second OTDR module generating delayed signals, and a first and second OSC transmitter generating delayed signals, which are interleaved and transmitted on separate optical fibers, with an OSC receiver combining these signals to form an uninterrupted clock synchronization information stream, utilizing wavelength division multiplexers and delay elements to ensure continuous synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the OSC/OTDR module operates in interleaved mode to share the wavelength, then device complexity is reduced, but clock synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to interruptions during OTDR measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the clock synchronization function into two separate modules: an OSC module dedicated to clock synchronization and an OTDR module dedicated to fiber testing. This segmentation allows each module to operate independently without interfering with the other, thereby maintaining clock synchronization accuracy while preserving the simplicity of the shared wavelength architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the clock synchronization function from the interleaved OSC/OTDR module and places it in a dedicated OSC module. This extraction ensures that clock synchronization operations are not interrupted by OTDR measurements, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and synchronization accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If a dedicated OSC module is used for uninterrupted clock synchronization, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dedicated OSC module and OTDR module at the optical receiver side, where they share common functional blocks including the optical receiver, wavelength division multiplexer, and signal processing units. This merging approach allows the system to achieve uninterrupted clock synchronization through dedicated OSC operation while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the optical receiver and WDM components that serve both the OSC module and OTDR module. These universal components handle both clock synchronization signals and fiber testing signals, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated hardware and lowering overall system complexity despite the presence of a dedicated OSC module.
3Use of energy by moving object
If intermittent OSC operation is used, then power consumption is reduced, but clock synchronization reliability deteriorates for 5G applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous operation of the OSC module dedicated to clock synchronization, maintaining uninterrupted OSC signal transmission and reception. This continuous operation guarantees reliable clock synchronization for 5G applications while the OTDR module operates independently during scheduled measurement intervals, thereby achieving both reliability and energy efficiency.
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 ensures efficient clock synchronization across optical communication networks, reducing latency and power consumption, and enabling higher flexibility and lower costs by maintaining uninterrupted clock synchronization information, even under high-speed operations.
Implementation Method 1
a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to transmit the first OSC signal interleaved with the first OTDR signal on a first optical fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed systems, structures, and methods are directed to an optical transceiver, employing a first optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) module configured to generate a first OTDR signal, and a second OTDR signal, the second OTDR signal being a delayed version of the first OTDR signal, a first optical supervisory channel (OSC) transmitter configured to generate a first OSC signal, and a second OSC signal, the second OSC signal being a delayed version of the first OSC signal, a first wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) configured to transmit the first OSC signal interleaved with the first OTDR signal on a first optical fiber and a second WDM configured to transmit the second OSC signal interleaved with the second OTDR signal on a second optical fiber.