Tunable Optical Transceiver Automatic Wavelength Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical WDM systems face challenges in simplifying the connection of transceiver units to filter units, with a high risk of incorrect channel wavelength settings due to the need for manual selection and verification of channel wavelengths, leading to potential integration issues and increased installation efforts.
Innovation Solution
An optical WDM transmission and reception device with a controller unit that automatically sets the correct optical carrier wavelength by using a tuning mode, where a tuning signal is generated and looped back through a 1x2 coupler to verify the presence of the channel signal at the output port, allowing for automatic determination of the correct channel wavelength and termination of the tuning process when criteria are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual selection and verification of channel wavelengths is used, then the connection process requires operator intervention, but the risk of incorrect channel wavelength settings increases and installation effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic wavelength selection and verification before the connection is finalized. The controller automatically scans available wavelengths, identifies the correct channel wavelength for the target port, and configures the transceiver unit accordingly, eliminating the need for manual selection and verification during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical WDM transmission and reception device performs self-configuration through automatic wavelength selection. The controller autonomously determines the correct channel wavelength by scanning and detecting available wavelengths on the target port, then automatically configures the transceiver unit without requiring operator intervention, making the system serve itself during the connection process.
2Ease of operation
If automatic wavelength selection is implemented, then operator intervention is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to tuning mode and loopback path
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path serves multiple functions: it acts as both the transmission path for normal operation and the loopback path for wavelength verification during tuning. The same optical components (optical cables, WDM multiplexer/demultiplexer) are used for both data transmission and for the automatic wavelength selection process, eliminating the need for separate dedicated loopback hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates the automatic wavelength selection process. It generates test signals, monitors the optical path, detects the correct wavelength, and configures the transceiver unit, thereby managing the complexity of the tuning process through software/control logic rather than requiring complex hardware modifications.
3Measurement precision
If controller unit scans all available wavelengths, then the correct channel wavelength is automatically determined, but the time required for wavelength selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the optical path to determine the correct channel wavelength. The controller sends test signals at different wavelengths and monitors the optical path for responses. When a test signal at a specific wavelength is detected on the target port, the controller receives feedback confirming this is the correct channel wavelength, allowing automatic determination without exhaustive scanning of all possible wavelengths.
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 reduces the risk of incorrect channel wavelength settings and simplifies the connection process, enabling automatic wavelength selection and reducing operator intervention, thereby minimizing errors during transceiver unit installation and operation.
Implementation Method 1
where a small part of the optical power of the optical transmission signal is looped back in the direction of the WDM input port by means of a 1x2 coupler
Implementation Method 2
an optical transmission module which can be tuned with regard to its optical carrier wavelength... converts an electrical data signal supplied to it into a corresponding optical data signal
Implementation Method 3
an optical reception module... converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal and supplies it to a controller unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical transceiver unit for an optical WDM transmit and receive device, comprising a transmitting unit to which a data signal can be supplied at a data signal port. The transmitting unit converts this data signal into a corresponding optical transmit signal and supplies it to an optical output port of the transceiver unit, which can be connected to a predetermined channel input port of an optical multiplexer unit. Each channel input port of the optical multiplexer unit is assigned its own channel wavelength. The transceiver unit includes an optical transmit module whose optical carrier wavelength is tunable over a predetermined wavelength range. The transmitting unit is designed such that discrete wavelengths, corresponding to the channel wavelengths, can be set within the predetermined wavelength range.The transceiver unit comprises a receiver unit, to which an optical receive signal can be fed via an optical input port from a channel output port of an optical demultiplexer unit. The channel output ports of the optical demultiplexer unit are assigned the same channel wavelengths as the channel input ports of the optical multiplexer unit. The receiver unit converts the supplied optical signal into an electrical receive signal. The receiver unit also includes a controller unit, which controls the transmitter unit to generate an optical transmit signal with a predefined channel wavelength. In a tuning mode, the controller unit can control the transmitter unit to scan through all possible channel wavelengths. The controller unit evaluates the received signal supplied by the receiver unit to determine whether a termination criterion for the tuning mode is met. The scanning process continues until the termination criterion is met.