Shared Bias Voltage Bus for APD Receiver Power Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of multiple optical/electric conversion functions in a single board or optical module for APD receivers results in complicated circuits, low integration, large size, and high cost due to the need for separate bias voltages for each APD circuit.

Innovation Solution

A bias high-voltage generating circuit distributes a common bias voltage to multiple APD receivers through a bus, with an adjusting and detecting circuit on each APD to adjust the voltage according to the rated bias voltage, ensuring optimal operation and real-time monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate bias voltage circuits are used for each APD receiver, then the sensitivity indices of each APD are ensured, but the circuit complexity increases and integration is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity indicesVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate bias voltage generating circuits into a single shared bias voltage generating circuit that supplies voltage to multiple APD receivers through a common bus. This reduces circuit complexity and improves integration while maintaining individual voltage control through separate adjusting circuits for each APD receiver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the voltage control function into two parts: a shared bias voltage generating circuit for common voltage supply, and individual adjusting circuits for each APD receiver to maintain optimal sensitivity. This segmentation allows both high integration and individual performance optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate bias voltage circuits are used for each APD receiver, then the sensitivity indices of each APD are ensured, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity indicesVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple bias voltage generating circuits into one shared circuit that serves multiple APD receivers, significantly reducing the total area occupied by voltage generation components while maintaining individual voltage adjustment capabilities through compact adjusting circuits at each receiver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate bias voltage circuits are used for each APD receiver, then the sensitivity indices of each APD are ensured, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity indicesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple expensive high-voltage generating circuits into a single shared circuit, reducing component costs and manufacturing complexity. Individual adjusting circuits are used to maintain performance, achieving cost-effectiveness while preserving sensitivity indices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If a single bias voltage is shared among multiple APD receivers, then circuit complexity is reduced and integration is improved, but individual voltage adjustment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit complexityVSAvoidvoltage adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the voltage control into shared generation and individual adjustment parts. The shared bias voltage generating circuit reduces complexity, while individual adjusting circuits restore adaptability by allowing separate voltage optimization for each APD receiver based on their specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces adjusting circuits as intermediary components between the shared bias voltage source and individual APD receivers. These intermediaries enable voltage adaptation for each receiver while utilizing the shared voltage generation resource.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution simplifies the power supply, reduces costs, and minimizes space requirements while maintaining high sensitivity indices and ensuring APD security by eliminating the need for complex high-voltage generating circuits and enabling real-time detection of APD performance.

Implementation Method 1

An Avalanche Photodiode (APD) receiver is generally used for implementing the optical-electric conversion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The bias voltage is generated through a boost circuit from the low-voltage power supply (for example, +5 V power supply)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage multiplication:

Data Source

PatentEP2079174B1Apparatus and method for supplying power to avalanche photodide receivers
Publication Date: 2013.12.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2079174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2079174B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2079174B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for supplying power to multiple APD receivers is disclosed, including: a bias high-voltage generating circuit, connected with parallel APD receivers through a bus, and adapted to generate a bias voltage and distribute the bias voltage to tributary APD receivers through the bus. The apparatus also includes an adjusting and detecting circuit, set on each APD tributary, connected between a bias high-voltage generating circuit and an APD, and adapted to adjust the voltage value distributed to each APD according to the requirement of each APD. The APD receiver power supply apparatus under the present invention provides power supply to multiple APD receivers, thus avoiding the complicated high-voltage generating circuit required in the prior art, reducing the cost, and enabling the apparatus to occupy less space.