STATUS LINK FOR MULTI-CHANNEL OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. In a first multi-channel optoelectronic device, a method of establishing a redundant status link with a second multi-channel optoelectronic device, the method comprising:
- generating a status link modulation signal from status data, the status link modulation signal comprising a low frequency modulation current and representative of the status data;
effectively applying the status link modulation signal to at least two transmitter bias currents to generate at least two status-link modulated transmitter bias currents;
modulating each status-link modulated transmitter bias current with a different primary data modulation signal to obtain at least two resulting signals, wherein each primary data modulation signal comprises a high frequency modulation current and represents a different primary data electrical signal received by the optoelectronic device;
providing each resulting signal to a different optical transmitter for transformation into at least two optical signals; and
transmitting the at least two optical signals over a multi-channel communication link to the second multi-channel optoelectronic device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robust and redundant status link is established by a first multi-channel optoelectronic device with a second multi-channel optoelectronic device in a multi-channel communication link. Transmitter bias currents are effectively modulated with a status link modulation signal representative of status data and subsequently modulated with primary data modulation signals. The resulting signals are transformed into optical signals and transmitted over the link as main communication links combined with a status link. At the second device, the optical signals are received and converted to electrical signals. The receipt of the optical signals creates multiple receiver bias currents, which may be monitored to detect the status link modulation signal. The second device may adjust various operating parameters in response to the information conveyed by the status link. For instance, devices can use status links to operate above nominal eye safety limits and/or to adjust transmit power to compensate for degradation effects.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a first multi-channel optoelectronic device, a method of establishing a redundant status link with a second multi-channel optoelectronic device, the method comprising:
-
generating a status link modulation signal from status data, the status link modulation signal comprising a low frequency modulation current and representative of the status data; effectively applying the status link modulation signal to at least two transmitter bias currents to generate at least two status-link modulated transmitter bias currents; modulating each status-link modulated transmitter bias current with a different primary data modulation signal to obtain at least two resulting signals, wherein each primary data modulation signal comprises a high frequency modulation current and represents a different primary data electrical signal received by the optoelectronic device; providing each resulting signal to a different optical transmitter for transformation into at least two optical signals; and transmitting the at least two optical signals over a multi-channel communication link to the second multi-channel optoelectronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of actively maintaining eye safety while permitting operation of a multi-channel optical communication link above nominal eye safety limits, the method comprising:
-
in a first multi-channel optoelectronic device including a plurality of transmitters for emitting optical signals over a plurality of transmit channels to a second multi-channel optoelectronic device and a plurality of receivers for receiving optical signals over a plurality of receive channels from the second optoelectronic device, establishing a redundant status link with the second optoelectronic device over two or more of the transmit channels; determining that the optical signals received from the second optoelectronic device over the receive channels are not potentially exposed to view; and sending status data over the status link to the second optoelectronic device indicating it is safe for the second optoelectronic device to transmit optical signals to the first optoelectronic device over the receive channels at an aggregate optical transmit power that is greater than a predetermined eye safety limit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of monitoring and compensating for degradation effects affecting a multi-channel optical communication link, the method comprising:
-
in a first device communicably coupled to a second device via a plurality of transmit channels and a plurality of receive channels, establishing a redundant status link with the second device over two or more of the transmit channels, wherein the first device optically communicates with the second device over the transmit and receive channels using a first plurality of optical transmitters and a first plurality of optical receivers and the second device optically communicates with the first device over the transmit and receive channels using a second plurality of optical receivers and a second plurality of optical transmitters; monitoring the status of the receive channels; and transmitting status data indicative of the status of the receive channels to the second device over the status link, wherein the second device receives the status data and, in response, adjusts the transmit power of one or more of the second plurality of optical transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification