Reconfigurable Optical Equalization and Phase Recovery for Satellite Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coherent optical transceivers designed for terrestrial fiber optic systems face challenges in being directly applied to optical inter-satellite links due to high Doppler and sampling clock offsets, pointing-induced fading, and unique system models, requiring reconfigurable adaptive equalization and carrier phase recovery to handle polarization modal dispersion, state of polarization changes, and polarization-dependent loss.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable adaptive equalizer and carrier phase recovery circuit capable of supporting various modulation schemes, polarization modes, baud rates, and frame structures, designed to handle high Doppler and sampling clock offsets, while meeting size, weight, and power constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a reconfigurable adaptive equalizer and carrier phase recovery circuit is designed to support multiple modulation schemes, polarization modes, baud rates, and frame structures, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereconfigurabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adaptive equalizer and carrier phase recovery circuit are designed as universal blocks that can handle multiple modulation schemes (QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, etc.), polarization modes (single and dual), baud rates (1-33 GBaud), and frame structures through reconfiguration, allowing one circuit to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate dedicated circuits for each mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The equalizer employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where filter coefficients, polarization demultiplexing parameters, and carrier phase recovery settings can be adapted in real-time based on the detected modulation scheme and channel conditions, enabling the circuit to optimize its behavior for each specific operating mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If terrestrial fiber optic transceiver design is used for optical inter-satellite links, then manufacturing ease is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to high Doppler offsets, sampling clock offsets, and pointing-induced fading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign portabilityVSAvoidperformance under satellite conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic parameter adjustment to compensate for satellite link-specific impairments, including Doppler frequency offset compensation, sampling clock offset correction, and pointing-induced fading mitigation through adaptive equalization parameters that differ from terrestrial fiber optic configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptive equalizer and carrier phase recovery circuit incorporate feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor signal quality and channel conditions in the satellite link environment, adjusting equalization coefficients and phase recovery parameters in real-time to maintain reliable communication despite high Doppler and pointing variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If complex adaptive equalization and phase recovery circuits are implemented, then signal processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal equalization accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The equalizer implements variable complexity operation where the full adaptive equalization and carrier phase recovery processing is applied only when signal quality requires it, allowing the system to reduce processing intensity and power consumption when channel conditions are favorable while maintaining high accuracy when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250309994A1Reconfigurable adaptive equalization and carrier phase recovery

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An adaptive equalization and phase recovery circuit includes a weight adaptation circuit and a filtering circuit. The weight adaptation circuit is to decode phase estimation information generated during a carrier phase recovery for an input digital signal, generate a plurality of weights based on the phase estimation information, and perform weight adaptation to modify at least one of the plurality of weights based on a polarization of the input digital signal to obtain a modified plurality of weights. The filtering circuit is to apply the modified plurality of weights to the input digital signal to generate an equalized digital signal. The weight adaptation circuit and the filter circuit are reconfigurable for a plurality of communication standards and waveforms.