Optical Transceiver Diagnostics Calibration Before Host Reporting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical transceivers require host computing systems to perform calibration of digital diagnostic information, which consumes valuable resources and can be inefficient, especially when dealing with multiple transceivers or slower communication channels.

Innovation Solution

An optical transceiver with a system memory and processor that performs calibration of digital diagnostics internally by executing microcode to remove predictable errors from analog-to-digital conversion, making calibrated results accessible to the host.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the host computing system performs calibration of digital diagnostic information, then calibration accuracy can be achieved, but host computing resources are consumed and calibration efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration function is extracted from the host computing system and implemented as a dedicated calibration module within the optical transceiver. This separation allows the host to receive already-calibrated data without performing calibration operations, thereby preserving host computing resources while maintaining calibration accuracy through the dedicated module's specialized processing capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical transceiver performs calibration of its own digital diagnostic information through an integrated calibration module, eliminating the need for external host system intervention. The transceiver autonomously executes calibration operations on analog-to-digital conversion data, thereby improving calibration efficiency and reducing host resource consumption while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the host computing system performs calibration operations, then diagnostic accuracy can be improved, but the overall system speed and performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration module performs calibration operations on digital diagnostic data in advance, before the data is transmitted to or processed by the host computing system. This preliminary calibration ensures diagnostic accuracy is achieved at the source, eliminating the need for subsequent calibration operations at the host and thereby maintaining high system performance speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration function is extracted from the host computing system and implemented as a dedicated calibration module within the optical transceiver. This separation allows the host to receive already-calibrated data without performing calibration operations, thereby preserving host computing resources while maintaining calibration accuracy through the dedicated module's specialized processing capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional processors or larger host microprocessors are added to perform calibration, then calibration capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration capabilityVSAvoidhost system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical transceiver performs calibration of its own digital diagnostic information through an integrated calibration module, eliminating the need for external host system intervention. The transceiver autonomously executes calibration operations on analog-to-digital conversion data, thereby improving calibration efficiency and reducing host resource consumption while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration module is designed as a multi-functional component that can handle various types of diagnostic data calibration within the optical transceiver. By integrating this universal calibration capability into the transceiver itself, the system avoids the need for specialized host processors, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining versatile calibration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7447438B2Calibration of digital diagnostics information in an optical transceiver prior to reporting to host

Publication Date: 2008.11.04 II VI DELAWARE INC

AI summary

An optical transceiver configured to perform calibration of digital diagnostics prior to providing the calibrated values to a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as a “host”) that is communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes a sensor that measures an analog operational parameter signal such as temperature or supply voltage. Each analog signal is then converted to digital samples by analog to digital converter(s). A processor executes microcode that causes the optical transceiver to perform calibration on the various samples to compensate for predictable error introduced into the analog signal prior to or during the analog-to-digital conversion. The optical transceiver may then make the calibrated result accessible to the host.