OSC Polarization Detection for High-Resolution Fiber Event Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical sensing technologies in communication networks struggle with high costs and limited spatial resolution in detecting environmental disturbances due to background noise and lack of spatial information, making it difficult to accurately detect events like earthquakes and vibrations in optical fibers.

Innovation Solution

A detection device utilizing non-coherent detection of optical supervisory channel (OSC) signals to determine the state of polarization (SOP) in optical fiber spans, integrating with existing OSC modules for cost-effective high spatial resolution event detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coherent transmission systems are used to obtain SOP information for event detection, then event detection capability is improved, but the system becomes susceptible to background noise interference and provides limited spatial information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent detection capabilityVSAvoidbackground noise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary SOP information from the OSC signal through non-coherent detection, separating the useful polarization state data from the noisy coherent transmission system. This allows event detection to be performed using only the essential parameters without being affected by background noise from the main data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If specialized equipment is used to generate light pulses for OTDR technology, then fiber fault detection capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber fault detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the OSC signal serve multiple functions: it carries both data transmission information and SOP sensing information. By using the existing OSC infrastructure for dual purposes, the system eliminates the need for specialized detection equipment while maintaining fiber event detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The OSC signal automatically provides sensing functionality without requiring external specialized equipment. The existing OSC infrastructure serves itself by enabling SOP-based event detection through non-coherent detection, eliminating the need for separate fault detection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If non-coherent detection is used on OSC signals, then system cost and complexity are reduced, but measurement precision of SOP information may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidSOP information precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from coherent detection to non-coherent detection, which simplifies the system architecture. Despite this parameter change, the system maintains sufficient measurement precision by focusing on SOP tracking for event detection rather than requiring full coherent signal reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables accurate detection of environmental events with high spatial resolution by directly detecting OSC signals, reducing complexity and cost while improving event detection capabilities in optical networks.

Implementation Method 1

a polarization beam splitter for decomposing at least a portion of the OSC signal into a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, wherein the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

each of the first detector, second detector, and third detector may comprise a photoelectric conversion device and a power meter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4668616A1Signal detection devices, methods, and computer readable media to determine the state of polarization of a received OSC signal
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4668616A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4668616A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4668616A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An optical network system and a signal detection device, a detection method, a computer-readable medium, and a computer program product applied therein are disclosed. An exemplary detection device may comprise: a receiving module configured to receive optical supervisory channel (OSC) signals transmitted via an optical fiber span; a sensing module connected to the receiving module, configured to perform a non-coherent detection on at least a portion of the OSC signal; and a signal processing module configured to determine the state of polarization (SOP) information of the OSC signal based on the results of the non-coherent detection.