Pluggable Bidirectional Optical Transceiver Amplifier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical amplifiers are costly, fixed components that can be defective, uni-directional, and cause optical transients damaging receivers due to sudden signal changes, leading to inefficient signal amplification and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

A pluggable optical transceiver amplifier combining a booster and pre-amplifier into one unit with bidirectional signal circulators, a pump laser, and an amplifying medium like Erbium doped fiber, allowing for hot-swapping and efficient amplification of both transmitting and receiving signals, reducing resource wastage and mitigating transient effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed optical amplifier is used, then signal amplification is provided, but the whole circuit card needs to be replaced if the amplifier becomes defective, increasing loss of time and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamplifier reliabilityVSAvoidrepair difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The optical amplifier is segmented into a separate pluggable module that can be independently replaced from the main circuit card. This allows the amplifier to be replaced as a standalone unit without replacing the entire circuit card, thereby reducing loss of time and cost while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a traditional optical amplifier is used, then signal amplification is provided, but it is uni-directional and cannot amplify signals in both transmitting and receiving paths, causing loss of energy and resource wastage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification efficiencyVSAvoidenergy waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The optical amplifier is designed with bidirectional capability, allowing it to amplify signals in both transmitting and receiving paths. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate amplifiers for each direction, thereby improving productivity and reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If optical amplifiers are used with sudden signal changes, then signal amplification is provided, but optical transients are generated that can damage receivers, causing harmful factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification capabilityVSAvoidoptical transient damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical amplifier incorporates transient suppression mechanisms that act in advance to prevent optical transients from damaging receivers. By preparing counter-measures before transients occur, the system maintains signal amplification capability while protecting against harmful transient effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Productivity

If separate booster amplifier and pre-amplifier are used, then comprehensive signal amplification is provided, but device complexity and initial equipment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification completenessVSAvoidamplifier system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The booster amplifier and pre-amplifier are merged into a single bidirectional optical amplifier module. This consolidation maintains comprehensive signal amplification capability for both transmitting and receiving paths while reducing device complexity and initial equipment cost compared to using separate amplifiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 provides a cost-effective, compact, and efficient means to amplify both transmitting and receiving signals, reducing the risk of receiver damage from transients and enabling easy upgrades in optical networks, while minimizing initial equipment costs and optimizing pump power usage.

Implementation Method 1

a pump laser for providing power to at least one optical signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

an amplifying medium for amplifying optical signals, said amplifying medium being coupled between said WDM coupler and said second optical circulator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical amplification:

Implementation Method 3

The amplifying medium may be an Erbium doped fiber which would amplify any optical signal passing through it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectErbium doped fiber amplification:

Data Source

PatentUS8055130B2Optical transceiver amplifier

Publication Date: 2011.11.08 DOWSLAKE MICROSYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

Systems and devices for use as optical transceivers and amplifiers in optical networks. An optical transceiver/amplifier has two optical signal circulators, each of which receives one incoming signal and transmits one outgoing optical signal. Each circulator combines its incoming and outgoing signals on to a bidirectional optical connection internal to the transceiver amplifier. Between the two circulators are a pump laser, an optical coupler to couple the pump laser's power into the bidirectional connection, and an amplifying medium for amplifying the bidirectional signals internal to the transceiver amplifier. The amplifying medium may be an Erbium doped fiber which would amplify any optical signal passing through it. In one embodiment, the transceiver amplifier is in a self-contained package that is pluggable into existing equipment using pre-existing ports and interfaces.