Method and apparatus for active voltage regulation in optical modules
First Claim
1. An optical module apparatus, comprising:
- one or more semiconductor light sources to emit light;
one or more photodetectors to detect the light emitted from the one or more semiconductor light sources;
one or more optical fibers;
optics to optically couple light emitted from the one or more semiconductor light sources to the one or more optical fibers and from the optical fibers to the one or more photodetectors;
a laser diode driver communicatively connected to the one or more semiconductor light sources to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources;
a temperature monitor having an output and configured to generate an output indicative of a temperature of the optical module apparatus;
a voltage regulator configured to generate output voltages and coupled to the laser diode driver to provide a supply voltage to the laser diode drive to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources, wherein the supply voltage to the laser diode drive is included in the output voltages;
voltage regulator control electronics configured to adjust the output voltages of the voltage regulator with respect to the output of the temperature monitor; and
a microcontroller including an input to receive the output of the temperature monitor and configured to provide a control input to the voltage regulator control electronics based at least in part on the received output of the temperature monitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for active voltage regulation in optical modules utilize a voltage regulator to change the supply voltage provided to laser diode driver and receiver electronics to optimize module performance over temperature. The ambient temperature of the module is monitored. The outputs of the voltage regulator are controlled to provide voltages that are optimized with respect to temperature for the integrated circuits in the optical module. This control is implemented via a temperature sensitive feedback or a control input from a microcontroller with a temperature monitor input. The supply voltage is optimized to minimize the voltage required to achieve acceptable performance at a given temperature. Minimizing the supply voltage lengthens the lifetime of the integrated circuit and the optical module. The voltage regulator provides higher than standard supply voltages to a laser diode driver to compensate for higher laser voltage at low temperatures.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An optical module apparatus, comprising:
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one or more semiconductor light sources to emit light; one or more photodetectors to detect the light emitted from the one or more semiconductor light sources; one or more optical fibers; optics to optically couple light emitted from the one or more semiconductor light sources to the one or more optical fibers and from the optical fibers to the one or more photodetectors; a laser diode driver communicatively connected to the one or more semiconductor light sources to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources; a temperature monitor having an output and configured to generate an output indicative of a temperature of the optical module apparatus; a voltage regulator configured to generate output voltages and coupled to the laser diode driver to provide a supply voltage to the laser diode drive to drive the one or more semiconductor light sources, wherein the supply voltage to the laser diode drive is included in the output voltages; voltage regulator control electronics configured to adjust the output voltages of the voltage regulator with respect to the output of the temperature monitor; and a microcontroller including an input to receive the output of the temperature monitor and configured to provide a control input to the voltage regulator control electronics based at least in part on the received output of the temperature monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of regulating voltage in an optical module, the method comprising:
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providing one or more semiconductor light sources and one or more photodetectors in the optical module; optically coupling light from the one or more semiconductor light sources to an optical fiber and from the optical fiber to the one or more photodetectors; monitoring, from a temperature monitor, a temperature of the optical module; providing, from a voltage regulator, an output including one or more voltages; adjusting the output of the voltage regulator based at least partly on the monitoring of the temperature of the optical module; and providing, from a microcontroller, a control input to the voltage regulator based at least in part on the output of the temperature monitor received from the temperature monitor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification