Optical Waveguide Inter-Mode Delay Adjustment for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication systems face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining waveform quality, particularly due to positional deviations in single mode fibers which lead to high accuracy requirements and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed optical communication system uses an optical waveguide that propagates only a fundamental mode at a first wavelength and communicates using light of a second wavelength, which can also propagate a primary mode. An inter-mode propagation delay difference adjustment unit is implemented to adjust the delay of one mode with respect to the other by one unit interval, either through the optical waveguide itself or a variable phase shifter in the receiver, based on waveform quality information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bias current is increased to ensure waveform quality of the reception signal, then the waveform quality is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the propagation delay parameter by introducing a delay of one unit interval between the fundamental mode and primary mode through optical waveguide design or variable phase shifters. This parameter change allows the system to maintain waveform quality with reduced bias current, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving signal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (variable phase shifter or optical waveguide with specific length and refractive index) that mediates between the two modes to create the required delay difference. This intermediary allows waveform quality maintenance without requiring high bias current, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption
2Manufacturing precision
If the accuracy requirements for components are increased to suppress positional deviation, then the positional deviation is reduced, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the system parameter from requiring high positional accuracy to utilizing modal propagation characteristics where the delay difference between modes is the critical parameter. This allows the use of less precise, lower-cost components while maintaining communication quality through the engineered delay relationship between fundamental and primary modes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the use of lower-cost optical waveguides and components that do not require high manufacturing precision for positional alignment. By relying on the propagation characteristics and delay difference between modes rather than precise alignment, the system can use more economical components
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 allows for reduced power consumption by minimizing the bias current required for the light emitting element while maintaining waveform quality, thus lowering costs and improving system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide that propagates only a fundamental mode at a first wavelength, and the second wavelength is a wavelength at which the optical waveguide can propagate at least a primary mode together with the fundamental mode
Data Source
AI summary
Power consumption can be reduced while ensuring waveform quality of a reception signal. Provided is an optical communication system in which a transmitter and a receiver are connected by an optical waveguide, and perform communication using light of a second wavelength. Here, the optical waveguide propagates only the fundamental mode at the first wavelength, and the second wavelength is a wavelength at which the optical waveguide can propagate at least the primary mode together with the fundamental mode. An inter-mode propagation delay difference adjustment unit adjusts the primary mode to be delayed by one unit interval with respect to the fundamental mode in the optical communication path of the light of the second wavelength including the optical waveguide. For example, moreover, a mode ratio adjustment unit adjusts a ratio between the fundamental mode and the primary mode in the light of the second wavelength input from the transmitter to the optical waveguide.