Optical Transmitter Chip Reduces Bit Error Rates in Data Centers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing OTN technology-based transmitter chips for short-distance data transmission in data centers experience high bit error rates due to signal attenuation through metal wiring on PCB boards, which affects transmission quality.
Innovation Solution
An optical transmitter chip integrating a transmitter, digital control unit, and power module, featuring optical modulation amplitude signal loss detection, linear equalization, multi-rate clock data recovery, and signal bypass mechanisms to optimize signal quality and reduce bit errors, with a built-in power management module for efficient power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transmitted through metal wiring on PCB board, then the transmitter can be implemented, but signal attenuation occurs resulting in high bit error rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal transmission path from the PCB metal wiring environment by using an optical transmitter chip that converts electrical signals to optical signals, thereby removing the harmful effect of metal wiring attenuation and achieving reliable short-distance transmission in data centers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from electrical signal through metal wire to optical signal through semiconductor chip, fundamentally altering the transmission characteristics to eliminate attenuation issues and reduce bit error rates
2Productivity
If optical transmitter chip is used for short-distance transmission, then transmission capability is achieved, but signal quality degrades due to PCB metal trace attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmitter functionality directly into an optical chip, combining the signal generation and optical conversion in a single integrated component, which eliminates the intermediate PCB metal trace transmission path and preserves signal quality while maintaining transmission capability
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 significantly reduces bit error rates and improves signal quality by optimizing electrical signals before transmission, while the power management module minimizes power consumption and hardware costs, making it suitable for data centers.
Implementation Method 1
drive a VCSEL laser to emit an optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical transmitter chip based on OTN transmission technology, which solves the high bit error rate in existing OTN technology for data transmission below 100 m in the data center, includes a transmitter TX, a digital control unit DIGIITAL, and a power module POWER. The transmitter TX first uses the optical modulation amplitude signal loss module to complete a judgment of an optical modulation amplitude for an attenuated electrical signal transmitted through metal traces on a PCB board. Only if the signal is greater than the preset threshold, an enable signal is output to control a linear equalizer and a laser driver to start, and open a signal transmission path for the chip-driven laser to emit an optical signal. The linear equalizer and the bypass ByPass process signal optimization in two-stage, then the signal is sent to the laser driver to drive the laser to emit an optical signal.