Optical Transceiver Wavelength Control via Shared Laser Module

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Variable-wavelength optical transceivers face challenges in manufacturing cost, design complexity, and control complexity due to the inclusion of unnecessary components in tunable laser modules for generating multiple wavelengths.

Innovation Solution

The optical transceiver design incorporates a reference tunable laser module and general tunable laser modules, where only the reference module includes components like a wavelength locker, current-to-voltage converter, and thermoelectric cooler, with a controller using a lookup table to control wavelength tuning based on the relationship between the reference and general wavelengths, simplifying the configuration and reducing unnecessary components in general modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each tunable laser module includes complete components (wavelength locker, I/V converter, thermistor, TEC), then wavelength control reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength control reliabilityVSAvoidmodule configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the wavelength control functionality across multiple laser modules by having them share a common wavelength locker and control system. Instead of each module having independent wavelength lockers, the system combines these resources so that one wavelength locker serves multiple laser modules, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining wavelength control reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wavelength locker and control components are designed with universal functionality to serve multiple tunable laser modules simultaneously. The same wavelength locker circuitry and control logic can manage different laser modules with different allocated wavelengths, eliminating the need for duplicate components in each module and reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If each tunable laser module includes complete components (wavelength locker, I/V converter, thermistor, TEC), then wavelength tuning precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength tuning precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines wavelength control resources across multiple laser modules to reduce component count. By merging the wavelength locker and control systems, the manufacturing cost is reduced while maintaining precision through shared high-precision components rather than multiple lower-precision components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of copying complete module configurations including expensive precision components like wavelength lockers in each module, the patent uses a single master wavelength locker that controls multiple modules. This eliminates redundant copying of expensive precision components while maintaining wavelength tuning precision through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Stability of the object's composition

If each tunable laser module includes complete components (wavelength locker, I/V converter, thermistor, TEC), then wavelength stability is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength stabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control functions for multiple laser modules into a unified control system. The controller integrates wavelength stabilization logic that manages multiple modules simultaneously, reducing control complexity compared to having separate independent control loops for each module while maintaining wavelength stability through coordinated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 manufacturing costs and design/control complexity by simplifying the tunable laser modules, enabling efficient output of multiple wavelengths while maintaining effective wavelength control.

Implementation Method 1

a thermoelectric cooler (TEC)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermoelectric cooling: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 2

each of the tunable laser modules includes a wavelength locker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavelength locking:

Implementation Method 3

a current-to-voltage (I/V) converter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS11387908B2Optical transceiver

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SOLID

AI summary

Provided is an optical transceiver including a reference tunable laser module configured to generate and output light of a reference wavelength; a first general tunable laser module configured to generate and output light of a first wavelength; and a controller configured to control a tuning operation of the first wavelength of the first general tunable laser module, based on information about a relationship between the reference wavelength and the first wavelength.