Polychromatic Signal Grouping for Optical Line Terminal Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive optical networks with wavelength division multiplexing face significant optical losses and inefficiencies due to the need for intermediate optical components and fibers, which degrade signal quality and availability when pooling multiple optical distribution networks onto a single optical line terminal.
Innovation Solution
A method that groups and separates polychromatic optical signals into monochromatic beams without intermediate optical fibers, using techniques such as glass plates with multilayer treatment or grating filters to minimize losses, and converts these signals into electrical signals using integrated optical components or free-space optics, reducing the number of optical components and losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate optical components and fibers are used to pool multiple optical distribution networks onto a single optical line terminal, then the ability to pool multiple ODNs is improved, but optical losses increase and signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical distribution networks directly at the optical line terminal without using intermediate optical components or fibers. By eliminating the intermediate demultiplexer and coupler stages, multiple ODNs are pooled directly onto the OLT, maintaining signal quality while achieving the desired adaptability to serve multiple networks from a single terminal.
2Manufacturing precision
If intermediate optical components are used to extract and regroup wavelengths from multiple fibers, then wavelength separation is achieved, but the number of optical components increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength separation function from the intermediate optical components and performs it directly at the optical line terminal. By removing the intermediate demultiplexer and coupler, the system eliminates multiple optical components while maintaining precise wavelength separation through direct optical processing at the terminal stage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional approach of first separating wavelengths in intermediate components and then regrouping them, the patent inverts the process by pooling all optical signals first and then performing wavelength separation directly at the OLT. This reversal eliminates the need for intermediate demultiplexing and regrouping operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If signals pass through multiple intermediate optical components, then wavelength demultiplexing is achieved, but signal quality and availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary pooling of all optical signals from multiple distribution networks before any wavelength demultiplexing occurs. By consolidating all signals first and then performing a single stage of wavelength separation at the OLT, the system avoids multiple passes through optical components that would degrade signal quality and reduce availability.
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 enables efficient generation of electrical signals from multiple wavelengths without intermediate optical fibers, minimizing signal losses and improving the quality and availability of services by eliminating the need for intermediate optical components, thus allowing multiple optical distribution networks to be pooled onto a single optical line terminal effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a step of separating the beam of polychromatic signals into a plurality of beams of monochromatic optical signals, wherein the separation step comprises a step of passing the beam of polychromatic signals through a plurality of glass plates with multilayer treatment, arranged in cascade configuration, a glass plate filtering one of the determined wavelengths and reflecting the other wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
the separation step comprises a step of reflection of the beam of polychromatic signals in a grating filter emitting the beams of monochromatic optical signals according to a plurality of diffraction angles specific to their wavelength
Implementation Method 3
a step of converting the plurality of separated monochromatic optical signal beams into the plurality of electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for generating a plurality of electrical signals from polychromatic optical signals extracted from a set of optical fibers, a polychromatic signal including a plurality of predetermined wavelengths. An electrical signal is generated by using predetermined wavelengths. The method includes: grouping the extracted optical signals together into a polychromatic optical signal beam; separating the polychromatic signal beam into a plurality of monochromatic optical signal beams; and converting the plurality of separated monochromatic optical signal beams into the plurality of electrical signals.