Wavelength-Multiplexed Subranging Electro-Optic Modulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-optic modulators suffer from nonlinearity due to their sinusoidal transfer function, limiting the signal dynamic range and hindering the transmission and processing of analog signals.
Innovation Solution
A distributed electrooptic modulation architecture that 'folds' the large dynamic range of the input signal across multiple linear subranges, each addressed using a unique optical wavelength, thereby increasing the total linear dynamic range of the electrooptic modulator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single electro-optic modulator is used, then the device complexity is low, but the linear dynamic range is limited due to sinusoidal nonlinearity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single wide dynamic range modulator into multiple narrow dynamic range modulators, each operating in its linear region. Each modulator handles a specific subrange of the input signal, and their outputs are combined to achieve overall linear operation across the extended dynamic range, resolving the contradiction between limited linear range and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wavelength as an additional dimension to solve the dynamic range limitation. By assigning different optical wavelengths to different modulators in the array, the system can process multiple signal subranges simultaneously without interfering with each other, thereby extending the overall linear dynamic range while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If high optical power is used to achieve high dynamic range, then the signal to noise ratio improves, but photodetector saturation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high optical power signal across multiple modulators, each processing a portion of the total signal. This distribution prevents any single photodetector from receiving excessive power that would cause saturation, while the combined output from all modulators maintains the high signal-to-noise ratio needed for high dynamic range operation.
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 achieves linear electro-optic modulation over a dramatically wider range of input signal amplitudes, overcoming the limitations of saturation in photodetectors at high optical powers and enhancing the dynamic range of electrooptic links.
Implementation Method 1
electro-optic modulators, which suffer from nonlinearity due to their sinusoidal transfer function
Implementation Method 2
problems caused by saturation of the photodetector at high optical powers
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a solution to address the intrinsic nonlinearity of analog signals and the restrictions this places on the signals dynamic range. The subject matter described herein produces linear electro-optic modulation over a dramatically wider range of the input signal amplitude. This is accomplished by a distributed multiwavelength design that “folds” the large dynamic range across multiple linear subranges, with each subrange being addressed using an optical wavelength. As a result, the subrange within the wide dynamic range of the input signal is captured by the linear portion of the transfer function of a single transfer function. Several physical implementations of this subject are presented herein. This innovation enables the efficient use of optical links for the transmission and processing of analog and multilevel signals, overcoming the limitations that were once hindering progress in this field.