Rotating Optical Selector for Low-Loss Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication systems experience significant signal losses due to processing requirements between locations, particularly in antenna-beam forming processor setups, where conventional blocking or non-blocking switch arrangements are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An optical selector arrangement featuring a rotating joint with coaxially rotatable portions and a selector that aligns optical ports to minimize losses, allowing for selective coupling and beam steering with reduced insertion loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If blocking or non-blocking optical switch arrangement is used for beam steering, then optical port selection is achieved, but signal transmission loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical optical switching mechanisms with a rotating joint that uses continuous rotational motion to align optical ports. This substitution eliminates the need for discrete switching actions, reducing signal loss by maintaining continuous optical coupling throughout the selection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical selector arrangement employs a dynamically rotating joint that continuously adjusts the alignment between optical ports during operation. This dynamic approach allows for smooth transitions between different port connections without the abrupt changes inherent in traditional switching mechanisms, thereby minimizing signal disruption and loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional switch matrix methods are used for data transfer, then data routing is achieved, but insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the optical signal source and destination, providing a continuous physical connection that maintains signal integrity. Unlike traditional switch matrices that require disconnection and reconnection, the rotating joint mediates the connection through continuous rotational alignment, reducing insertion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous optical coupling throughout the data transfer process by using a rotating joint that preserves the optical path during rotation. This continuity ensures that the useful action of signal transmission is maintained without interruption or significant loss, unlike traditional switching methods that create discontinuities during port selection.
3Ease of operation
If optical ports are selectively blocked for beam steering, then beam direction control is achieved, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating joint provides dynamic control of beam direction through continuous rotation, allowing smooth steering without the need to block optical ports. This dynamic approach maintains open optical paths throughout the steering process, eliminating the signal loss associated with blocking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the blocking mechanism with a rotational alignment system. Instead of blocking certain optical ports to achieve beam steering, the system uses the rotation of the joint to align the appropriate ports, substituting a positive alignment action for a negative blocking action and thereby reducing signal loss.
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical selector arrangement(22), comprising: a first set of optical ports (30), having a first number of optical ports, the first number being greater than or equal to 2;a second set of optical ports (42), having a second number of optical ports, the second number being greater than the first number; the second set of optical ports being for communicating with the first set of optical ports, a selector interface(40)for the optical selector arrangement, the selector interface comprising the second set of optical ports(42), a part of the optical selector arrangement functioning as a selector(44), the selector being arranged to selectively optically couple the first set of optical ports(30)to a set of ports of the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface, the selector (44) being rotatable relative to the selector interface (40)to facilitate the selection by optically aligning the first set of optical ports(30)to the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface(40);the selector (44) being configured to be continuously relatively rotatable over multiple rotations, to selectively optically couple the first set of optical ports (30) to a different set of ports of the second set of optical ports of the selector interface.