Optical Transmitter Spectral Filter for Direct Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coherent detection solutions for optical fiber transmissions are too expensive for short reach applications, necessitating high-data-rate transmission techniques compatible with direct detection.

Innovation Solution

An optical transmitter employing a spectral filter to enhance high-frequency components of multilevel amplitude-shift-keying (ASK) modulated signals, using a Feed Forward filter and feedback loop for optimal spectral equalization, enabling successful demodulation with quadratic direct detection receivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If coherent detection is used for optical fiber transmissions, then data rate and transmission distance are improved, but system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive coherent detection systems with cheaper direct detection receivers. By using spectral filtering and multilevel ASK modulation, the system achieves high data rates (100Gb/s) using inexpensive direct detection technology, effectively substituting a costly system with a more economical alternative that maintains performance for short-reach applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If spectral filtering is applied to enhance high-frequency components, then signal quality for direct detection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidfilter configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the system monitors the quality of the modulated signal and dynamically adjusts the spectral filter characteristics. This closed-loop control optimizes the enhancement of high-frequency components while maintaining signal integrity, allowing the system to adapt to varying transmission conditions and maintain optimal performance without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The spectral filter is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing its parameters to be adjusted in real-time based on transmission conditions. This dynamic adaptation enables the filter to optimize signal quality for different operating scenarios, transforming a static filtering operation into a flexible, condition-responsive process that maintains high signal quality across varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2688232B1Optical transmitter for transmitting a multilevel amplitude-shift-keying modulated signal
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2688232B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2688232B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2688232B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An optical transmitter for transmitting a multilevel amplitude-shift-keying modulated signal comprises an optical modulator (8) for modulating an optical signal with a multilevel amplitude-shift-keying modulation, and a spectral filter (11) adapted to increase a highfrequency component of the modulated optical signal relatively to a central frequency component. The multilevel ASK modulation is quaternary ASK and the symbol rate of the optical modulator is above 40Gbaud. An optical link (17) connects the optical transmitter to a quadratic direct detection optical receiver (15).