Wavelength Router Feedback Control Without Reference Laser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wavelength routers require a reference laser or light emitting means for temperature monitoring and compensation, making them complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength router with feedback control using at least one output monitor port to convert optical signals into electrical signals, comparing them against each other or a reference signal to generate a control signal for maintaining optimal temperature, eliminating the need for a reference laser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a reference laser or light emitting means is used for temperature monitoring and compensation, then temperature control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength router uses its own output optical signals to perform self-monitoring and self-compensation. The monitor ports extract portions of the actual optical signals passing through the device, which are then used by the control circuit to detect wavelength shifts and adjust the temperature of the waveguide structure accordingly. This eliminates the need for external reference lasers or light emitting means, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts monitor ports from the output of the wavelength router to obtain the actual optical signals. These extracted signals are then fed into the control circuit for analysis and feedback control. By taking out and utilizing the existing optical signals rather than introducing external reference signals, the system achieves temperature compensation without adding complex external reference laser components.
2Reliability
If a reference laser is used for wavelength compensation, then wavelength stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength router performs self-compensation using its own output signals. The control circuit processes the optical signals from the monitor ports and automatically adjusts the temperature to maintain wavelength stability. This self-service approach eliminates the need for expensive external reference lasers, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining wavelength stability.
3Measurement precision
If conventional temperature control with reference laser is used, then wavelength accuracy is maintained, but system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts monitor ports from the existing optical output to obtain signals for feedback control. This extraction approach utilizes the actual optical signals already present in the system rather than requiring separate reference laser systems, thereby maintaining wavelength accuracy while improving system efficiency by reducing the number of active components and simplifying the control architecture.
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 allows for effective temperature monitoring and compensation without a reference laser, simplifying the system and improving efficiency by directly using the actual optical spectrum for tuning the device.
Implementation Method 1
A wavelength router with feedback control using at least one output monitor port to convert optical signals into electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
a heater 109 attached to the AWG 100...provides an electrical response that can be determined by a present value of signal from the temperature sensor 106 and optionally from historic information
Data Source
AI summary
An optical waveguide router device with feedback control that uses the fringe frequencies of an optical data signal to derive a wavelength (e.g., temperature) control signal in order to compensate for wavelength variations due to temperature fluctuations and/or other wavelength shifting factors without the need for a reference laser. A monitoring circuit converts an output of at least one output monitoring port to an electrical signal and comparing the output of said at least one output monitoring port against 1) a reference signal, or 2) at least one output from another output monitoring port having a higher or lower frequency fringe of an optical data signal of at least one data port, or 3) at least one output from another output monitoring port having light from diffraction pattern(s), and outputting a control signal reflecting a result of the comparison to control at least one center wavelength of the waveguide router.