Optical Spectrum Analyzer Tunable Filter Continuous Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical spectrum analyzers require complex and expensive mechanical oscillations for scanning, limiting speed and reliability, and necessitate additional hardware for synchronization, making them inefficient for telecommunications.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a continuously rotating mechanism for the optical device or detector, allowing for high-speed data acquisition without oscillation and eliminating the need for expensive synchronization devices by using a motor for constant angular velocity rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oscillating motion is used for scanning, then wavelength coverage is achieved, but mechanical reliability deteriorates and data acquisition speed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical reliabilityVSAvoiddata acquisition speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional oscillating motion approach by using continuous unidirectional rotation of the diffraction grating. Instead of rotating the mirror back and forth to scan wavelengths, the grating itself rotates continuously in one direction, eliminating the need for oscillating components and their associated reliability issues while enabling faster data acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical oscillating system with a continuous rotation system driven by a motor with constant angular velocity. This substitution eliminates the complex oscillation control mechanism and wavelength reference devices, simplifying the mechanical system while improving both reliability and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If oscillating mirror mechanism is implemented, then spectrum scanning is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidmechanical implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the oscillating mirror mechanism and wavelength reference devices from the system. By rotating the diffraction grating continuously, the patent removes the need for complex oscillation control and synchronization hardware, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The continuously rotating grating system is self-synchronizing through the motor's constant angular velocity. The encoder naturally tracks the grating position without requiring additional wavelength reference devices, making the system self-service and operationally simpler.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If wavelength reference device is added for synchronization, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength detection precisionVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the synchronization system self-service by using the encoder that already tracks the grating's angular position. The constant angular velocity of the motor combined with the encoder provides natural wavelength calibration without requiring additional wavelength reference devices, maintaining measurement precision while reducing hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enhances mechanical reliability and data acquisition speed, reducing costs and complexity by enabling precise wavelength detection without oscillating components and additional hardware, achieving faster data acquisition cycles.

Implementation Method 1

the input beam I is combined with a diffraction grating 10 to separate different wavelengths and direct them in respective separate directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

A mirror 12 is used to reflect a portion of the diffracted spectrum toward a light detector 14

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The tunable filter is used in conventional manner to pass different wavelengths of the input beam sequentially by varying its angle of incidence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS8953161B2Optical spectrum analyzer with continuously rotating tunable filter

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 OPTOPLEX CORP

AI summary

An optical spectrum analyzer is implemented with a detector combined with a tunable filter mounted on a stage capable of 360-degree rotation at a constant velocity. Because of the constant rate of angular change, different portions of the input spectrum are detected at each increment of time as a function of filter position, which can be easily measured with an encoder for synchronization purposes. The unidirectional motion of the mirror permits operation at very high speeds with great mechanical reliability. The same improvements may be obtained using a diffraction grating or a prism, in which case the detector or an intervening mirror may be rotated instead of the grating or prism.