Remote Optically Pumped Amplifier Pump Power Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical communication networks face challenges in amplifying optical signals over long, lossy optical spans without the need for electrical power or regeneration points, particularly in unrepeatered systems where active optical repeaters are not feasible.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of remote optically pumped amplifiers (ROPA) that use optical pumping to amplify signals, eliminating the need for electrical power and allowing for spatial and wavelength multiplexing of pump powers to efficiently amplify signals across optical links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active optical repeaters are used to amplify signals, then signal amplification is achieved, but electrical power and regeneration points are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active electronic repeaters with passive optical amplification using Raman scattering and erbium-doped fiber amplification. The mechanical/electronic system of active repeaters is substituted with optical field-based amplification mechanisms that do not require electrical power at the amplification point, thereby eliminating the need for electrical power and regeneration points while maintaining signal amplification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber itself serves as the amplification medium through stimulated Raman scattering, where the fiber's nonlinear optical properties enable signal amplification without external power sources. The erbium-doped fiber section provides distributed gain using pump light transmitted through the same fiber, making the system self-sufficient without requiring separate power infrastructure
2Device complexity
If optical spans are extended to reduce repeater points, then system complexity is reduced, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the fiber by doping it with erbium ions, which fundamentally alters the fiber's optical properties to provide gain. Additionally, pump power parameters are optimized to achieve distributed amplification along the span, enabling extended transmission distances without increasing the number of repeater points while compensating for signal loss
Solution Approach 2:
The erbium-doped fiber is prepared in advance with specific erbium ion concentrations and pump power levels are pre-configured to provide distributed gain along the transmission path. This preliminary preparation enables the fiber to actively compensate for losses before they accumulate over extended spans, allowing longer distances between repeater points
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
ROPA systems effectively amplify optical signals over long distances without electrical power, supporting unrepeatered communication links and enabling efficient signal transmission in submarine and terrestrial optical communications, including multi-span systems, by utilizing optical pumping to enhance signal strength and reduce loss.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass filter configured to receive an optical signal and first pump power and to separate the optical signal and the first pump power
Implementation Method 2
remote optically pumped amplifiers (ROPA) that use optical pumping to amplify signals
Implementation Method 3
an amplifier configured to receive the optical signal from the bypass filter and to amplify the optical signal
Implementation Method 4
an optical combiner/multiplexer configured to receive the first pump power from the bypass filter, receive at least second and third pump powers, combine at least two of the first, second and third pump powers
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
An apparatus includes a remote optically pumped amplifier (ROPA) (110, 112, 130, 132, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1014, 1018, 1308a-1308m). The ROPA includes a bypass filter (204, 304, 804a, 804b, 904a, 904b, 1104, 1204a, 1204b) configured to receive an optical signal and first pump power and to separate the optical signal and the first pump power. The ROPA also includes an amplifier (206, 306, 806a, 806b, 906a, 906b, 1106, 1206a, 1206b) configured to receive the optical signal from the bypass filter and to amplify the optical signal. The ROPA further includes an optical combiner/multiplexer (208, 308, 402-404, 502-504, 602-604, 702-704, 808, 908, 1102c and 1120) configured to receive the first pump power from the bypass filter, receive at least second and third pump powers, combine at least two of the first, second and third pump powers, and provide different pump powers or combinations of pump powers to different locations within the ROPA to feed the amplifier.