System and method for protecting eye safety during operation of a fiber optic transceiver

• US 20050169636A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hosking, Lucy G., Aronson, Lewis B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/00 Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/30 Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/002 Thermal testing flaw detection G01N25/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0799 Monitoring line transmitter or line receiver equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2210/08 Shut-down or eye-safety

Abstract

A single-chip integrated circuit, sometimes called a controller, controls operation of a transceiver having a laser transmitter and a photodiode receiver. The controller includes memory for storing information related to the transceiver, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for receiving a plurality of analog signals from the laser transmitter and photodiode receiver, converting the received analog signals into digital values, and storing the digital values in predefined locations within the memory. Comparison logic compares one or more of these digital values with predetermined setpoints, generates flag values based on the comparisons, and stores the flag values in predefined locations within the memory. Control circuitry in the controller shuts off the laser transmitter in response to comparisons of signals with predetermined setpoints that indicate potential eye safety hazards.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:

in a memory within a fiber optic transceiver, storing a first set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for a bias current associated with a transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver, a second set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for an output power associated with the transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver;

acquiring, at an integrated circuit within said fiber optic transceiver, input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include the bias current and the output power;

comparing the bias current to each digital equivalent in the first set of digital equivalents, the output power to each digital equivalent in the second set of digital equivalents;

determining that said input signals conflict with at least one of the first set of digital equivalents and second set of digital equivalents; and

generating an alarm flag based on said conflict.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

the first set includes a high bias current setpoint and a low bias current setpoint, the second set includes a high output power setpoint and a low output power setpoint;

the comparing includes comparing the bias current to the high bias current setpoint and the low bias current setpoint, comparing the out put power to the high output power setpoint and the low output power setpoint.

32. Circuitry for monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:

a memory, including one or more memory arrays, configured to store a first set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for a bias current associated with a transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver, a second set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for an output power associated with the transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver;

communication circuitry configured to receive input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include the bias current and the output power; and

comparison logic configured to compare the bias current to each digital equivalent in the first set of digital equivalents, the output power to each digital equivalent in the second set of digital equivalents, and to generate an alarm flag if said input signals conflict with at least one of the first set of digital equivalents and second set of digital equivalents.

33. The circuitry of claim 32, further comprising operation disable circuitry configured to disable operation of at least a portion of said fiber optic transceiver in response to a signal, wherein the signal is based on said alarm flag.