Distributed Optoelectronic Receiver With Split-Band TIA Equalization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional copper data channels face limitations due to signal attenuation and crosstalk, which are only modestly improved by existing techniques requiring significant power and complexity, while optical communication offers a more scalable solution.

Innovation Solution

A distributed optoelectronic receiver system utilizing a grating coupler, splitter, photodiodes, and transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) to receive and amplify modulated optical signals, with each TIA configured for different frequency ranges and coupled to perform optical continuous linear equalization and filtering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If equalization, coding, and shielding techniques are used to mitigate signal attenuation and crosstalk in copper data channels, then signal quality is improved to some extent, but power consumption, system complexity, and cable bulk increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces copper-based electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission. This substitution eliminates the fundamental issues of copper channels (signal attenuation, crosstalk, electromagnetic interference) by using light to carry data through optical waveguides, thereby achieving high signal quality without requiring complex equalization, coding, or shielding techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental transmission medium parameter from electrical conductors (copper) to optical waveguides. This parameter change enables transmission with significantly lower attenuation and no crosstalk, as optical signals in waveguides are confined by total internal reflection and do not suffer from electromagnetic interference between adjacent channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If equalization, coding, and shielding techniques are applied to copper data channels, then signal attenuation and crosstalk are mitigated, but power consumption increases considerably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes optical transmission for electrical transmission, eliminating the need for power-hungry signal processing techniques. Optical signals experience minimal attenuation in waveguides, requiring far less amplification and regeneration power compared to copper channels that need continuous equalization and retransmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If equalization, coding, and shielding are used in copper data channels, then signal quality improves modestly, but cable bulk and weight increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidcable bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces bulky copper cables with compact optical waveguide structures. The waveguides confine light through total internal reflection, enabling high-bandwidth transmission through much smaller cross-sections than copper cables require for equivalent performance, thereby reducing cable bulk and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system achieves improved receiver sensitivity and frequency response, reducing signal distortion and jitter, enabling efficient optical signal processing and transmission.

Implementation Method 1

receiving a modulated optical signal utilizing the grating coupler

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGrating coupling: Diffraction Grating

Implementation Method 2

generating a plurality of electrical signals from the plurality of optical signals utilizing the plurality of photodiodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10243674B2Method and system for a distributed optoelectronic receiver

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for a distributed optoelectronic receiver are disclosed and may include an optoelectronic receiver having a grating coupler, a splitter, a plurality of photodiodes, and a plurality of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs). The receiver receives a modulated optical signal utilizing the grating coupler, splits the received signal into a plurality of optical signals, generates a plurality of electrical signals from the plurality of optical signals utilizing the plurality of photodiodes, communicates the plurality of electrical signals to the plurality of TIAs, amplifies the plurality of electrical signals utilizing the plurality of TIAs, and generates an output electrical signal from coupled outputs of the plurality of TIAs. Each TIA may be configured to amplify signals in a different frequency range. One of the plurality of electrical signals may be DC coupled to a low frequency TIA of the plurality of TIAs.