JP7301788B2 - Optical repeater and optical submarine cable system - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to technology for feeding power to an optical repeater of an optical submarine cable system.

Optical repeaters are provided in the optical submarine cable system when non-repeated transmission between landing stations is not possible. In such an optical submarine cable system having an optical repeater, a feeder line for feeding power to the optical repeater is provided in the cable, and the feeder installed at the landing station is connected to the feeder line in the cable. Power is supplied to each optical repeater via the .

Here, if an abnormality occurs in the feeder line in the cable and power cannot be supplied to the optical repeater, the optical submarine cable system will not be able to transmit signal light. In order to continue amplifying the signal light in the optical repeater even if an abnormality occurs in the feeder line in the cable, and thereby improve the reliability of the optical submarine cable system, in addition to the feeder line in the cable, other It is necessary to feed power to the optical repeater by the following method. In addition, since there is a limit to the power that can be supplied to the optical repeater through the feeder line, the transmission capacity of the optical submarine cable system is limited by the power that can be supplied to the optical repeater through the feeder line. Therefore, in order to increase the transmission capacity of an optical submarine cable system, it is necessary to feed the optical repeater by other methods in addition to the feeder lines in the cable. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a generator is provided on the sea or in the sea, the generator and an optical repeater are connected by a feeder line, and power generated by the generator is supplied to the optical repeater.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-506229 JP-A-2003-127982

However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, when the generator moves due to waves, swells, etc., the power supply line connecting the power generator and the optical repeater wears on the seabed, and as a result, the power supply line is exposed to seawater. There is a risk of electrical leakage. In addition, the power line that connects the generator near the sea and the optical repeater on the seabed can hinder fishing activities.

Therefore, it is desired to feed power to the optical repeater by a method different from the feeder in the cable or the feeder described in Patent Document 1. Note that if power can be supplied to the optical repeater without using the feeder line in the cable, the need to provide the feeder line in the cable is eliminated, and the cable structure can be simplified.

The present invention provides a technology for feeding power to an optical repeater, which makes it possible to omit the feeder line in the cable, to improve the reliability of the optical submarine cable system, or to increase the transmission capacity of the optical submarine cable system. It is something to do.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical repeater of an optical submarine cable system includes: a power unit that receives wirelessly transmitted power; and one or more pump light that emits pump light based on the power supplied from the power unit. A light source and an amplification unit for amplifying signal light using the pump light are provided , and the power unit further receives power transmitted through a feeder line in the cable .

According to the present invention, it is possible to omit a feeder line in the cable, improve the reliability of the optical submarine cable system, or increase the transmission capacity of the optical submarine cable system.

1 is a configuration diagram of an optical submarine cable system according to one embodiment; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical repeater according to one embodiment; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical submarine cable system according to one embodiment; FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical submarine cable system according to one embodiment; FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Also, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical submarine cable system according to this embodiment. A transmission device 11 installed in the first landing station and a transmission device 12 installed in the second landing station transmit and receive signal light via the optical repeater 3 . The optical repeater 3 optically amplifies the signal light transmitted and received by the transmission device 11 and the transmission device 12 . Although the optical submarine cable system shown in FIG. 1 has two optical repeaters 3, the number of optical repeaters 3 may be any number of one or more. The solid lines connecting the devices in FIG. 1 indicate optical fibers. A power supply device 21 installed in the first landing station and a power supply device 22 installed in the second landing station supply power to the optical repeater 3 . Dotted lines connecting devices in FIG. 1 indicate feeder lines. For example, the power supply device 21 applies a positive voltage to the power supply line, and the power supply device 22 applies a negative voltage to the power supply line. Since the optical repeater 3 is normally driven by a constant current, the voltage applied to the power supply line by the power supply device 21 and the power supply device 22 is a predetermined value for the current flowing in the power supply line to drive the optical repeater 3. is controlled so that The optical fiber indicated by the solid line and the feeder line indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1 are housed in the cable.

Furthermore, the optical submarine cable system according to this embodiment includes a submersible device 4 provided corresponding to each optical repeater 3 . The diving device 4 includes a power generator that generates power using any energy source such as sunlight, wind power, wave power, etc., and a charging device that is charged with power generated by the power generator. In addition, the diving device 4 has position information of the corresponding optical repeater 3, determines the position of its own device using a satellite positioning system such as GPS on the sea, and directs it toward the corresponding optical repeater 3. It has the ability to dive autonomously. For searching for an optical submarine cable by the submersible device 4 in the sea, for example, the configuration described in Patent Document 2 can be used. Furthermore, a camera or the like may be provided in the diving apparatus 4, and an image recognition technique may be used to determine the target optical repeater 3. FIG. In this way, the diving device 4 generates power based on the energy source used and charges the charging device. Then, after charging the charging device, it autonomously dives toward the corresponding optical repeater 3 .

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the optical repeater 3 according to this embodiment. The power unit 34 receives power transmitted from the power feeder 21 and the power feeder 22 via feeder lines in the cable, and supplies power to the light source 36 . The power receiving device 31 also charges the battery unit 32 based on the power wirelessly transmitted from the charging device of the diving device 4 . The power unit 33 supplies the power of the battery unit 32 to the light source 35 . The power units 33 and 34 also supply power to other circuits of the optical repeater 3 . A light source 35 and a light source 36 emit pump light for optical amplification. Specifically, the pump light emitted by the light source 35 is output to both the light amplification section 37 and the light amplification section 38 via the optical coupler 39, which is an optical member. Similarly, the pump light emitted by the light source 36 is output to both the optical amplification section 37 and the optical amplification section 38 via the optical coupler 39 . The optical amplification units 37 and 38 optically amplify signal light transmitted and received between the transmission device 11 and the transmission device 12 based on the pump light.

Each of the optical amplifiers 37 and 38 has one or more optical members, such as one or more erbium-doped fibers (EDF), for amplifying signal light with pump light. The total number of EDFs that the optical amplifiers 37 and 38 have is equal to the number of fibers accommodated in the optical submarine cable system. For example, the number of fibers accommodated in the optical submarine cable system may be 2p (p is an integer equal to or greater than 1), and each of the optical amplifiers 37 and 38 may have p EDFs. The p EDFs of the optical amplifier 37 amplify the signal light transmitted by the transmission device 11, and the p EDFs of the optical amplifier 38 amplify the signal light transmitted by the transmission device 12. conduct. In this case, the pump light output from the optical coupler 39 to the optical amplification unit 37 is input to each of the p EDFs of the optical amplification unit 37, and the pump light output from the optical coupler 39 to the optical amplification unit 38 is input to the optical amplification unit It is input to each of 38 p EDFs.

Since the light source 35 is driven by the battery unit 32, for example, even if the power supply line from the power supply device 21 to the power supply device 22 is damaged and the light source 36 cannot be driven due to this, the optical repeater 3 will continue to operate the light source 35. can optically amplify the signal light transmitted and received between the transmission device 11 and the transmission device 12 by the pump light emitted by . Therefore, the reliability of the optical submarine cable system can be enhanced.

When the charging of the battery unit 32 is completed, the diving device 4 autonomously floats toward a location (power generation location) where the energy source to be used can be used. For example, when power is generated using sunlight or wind power, the power generation location can be above the installation position of the corresponding optical repeater 3 (on the ocean). After that, each operation of power generation based on the energy source to be used and charging to the charging device, autonomous diving toward the corresponding optical repeater 3, charging to the battery unit 32, and movement to the power generation site. repeat. This repeated operation is programmed in the diving device 4, for example.

In the optical repeater 3 of FIG. 2, the power unit 33 drives one light source 35 and the power unit 34 drives one light source 36. can also be configured to drive the light source. The plurality of light sources can be, for example, as many fibers as the optical submarine cable system accommodates. In other words, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a light source is provided corresponding to one fiber.

<Modification 1>
In the configuration of FIG. 2, the optical repeater 3 has an optical coupler 39, and outputs the pump lights emitted by the light sources 35 and 36 to the optical amplifiers 37 and 38, respectively. However, without providing the optical coupler 39, for example, the pump light emitted by the light source 35 may be output to the light amplifier 37, and the pump light emitted by the light source 36 may be output to the light amplifier 38.

For example, it is assumed that signal light that can be amplified by the output power of the power unit 34 is limited to signal light propagating through 2n fibers (n is an integer equal to or greater than 1) due to the configuration of the feeder line. In this case, the number of fibers that can be accommodated in the optical submarine cable system is limited to 2n (n pairs). On the other hand, it is assumed that the battery unit 32 can amplify signal light propagating through 2m fibers (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1) with the output power of the power unit 33 . In this case, the configuration of this embodiment can increase the number of fibers that can be accommodated in the optical submarine cable system to 2m+2n (m+n pairs). That is, the transmission capacity of the optical submarine cable system can be increased. In this case, the optical amplifier 37 in FIG. 2 includes 2m EDFs, and the optical amplifier 38 includes 2n EDFs.

<Modification 2>
In the configuration of FIG. 2 , the power unit 34 receives power from the power supply devices 21 and 22 , and the power unit 33 receives power from the battery unit 32 . However, it is also possible to use a single power unit that receives both power from the power supply devices 21 and 22 and power from the battery unit 32 to drive the light sources 35 and 36 .

<Modification 3>
The diving device 4 according to this embodiment has a power generation device and a charging device. However, the power generation device can also be cut out as an external device of the diving device 4 . In this case, for example, the power generator is fixedly provided at a location where energy used for power generation is acquired. Then, the charging device of the diving device 4 is wirelessly charged from the power generation device. Then, the diving device 4 performs wireless charging by the power generation device, autonomous diving toward the corresponding optical repeater 3, wireless charging of the battery unit 32, and movement to the installation location of the power generation device. Repeat the action.

<Modification 4>
In the optical submarine cable system of this embodiment, one diving device 4 is provided for one optical repeater 3 . However, it is also possible to provide a plurality of diving devices 4 for one optical repeater 3 and omit the battery unit 32 of the optical repeater 3 . Specifically, one of the plurality of diving devices 4 is always positioned near the optical repeater 3 and configured to perform wireless power transmission to the optical repeater 3 . The power receiving device 31 of the optical repeater 3 supplies this wirelessly transmitted power to the power unit 33 . For example, by programming the cycle of supplying power to the optical repeater 3, then performing power generation and charging, and then supplying power to the optical repeater 3 again for each of the plurality of diving devices 4, a plurality of , one of the submersible devices 4 can be configured to transmit wireless power to the optical repeater 3 at all times. Thereby, the battery unit 32 of the optical repeater 3 can be omitted.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the optical submarine cable system according to this embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that a monitoring control device 5 is provided in the landing station, and one optical repeater 3 is provided for a plurality of optical repeaters 3 (two optical repeaters 3 in FIG. 3). A submersible device 4 is provided. Positional information of a plurality of corresponding optical repeaters 3 is stored in the diving equipment 4 . Further, each optical repeater 3 notifies the monitoring control device 5 of the charge amount of the battery unit 32 via the transmission device 12 by a control signal. In this embodiment, the monitoring control device 5 is configured to be able to communicate with the diving device 4 via a mobile communication network or a satellite network.

When the monitoring control device 5 detects the optical repeater 3 whose charge amount has fallen below the threshold value, the monitoring control device 5 instructs the diving device 4 corresponding to the optical repeater 3 to charge the optical repeater 3 . The diving device 4 dives to the position of the optical repeater 3 notified by the monitoring control device 5 and supplies power to the optical repeater 3 .

<Modification 1>
In this embodiment, one submersible device 4 is provided for a plurality of optical repeaters 3, but one submersible device 4 is provided for one optical repeater 3 as in the first embodiment. It can also be configured to be provided. That is, each diving device 4 performs diving and charging of the optical repeater 3 in response to receiving the charging instruction from the monitoring control device 5 . Then, after moving to the power generation site, it may be configured to wait until the next charging instruction while generating power and charging the charging device. Further, as described in the modified example of the first embodiment, the power generating device may be arranged outside the diving device 4 .

<Third embodiment>
In the second embodiment, one diving device 4 is provided for a plurality of optical repeaters 3 . In other words, in the second embodiment, one diving device 4 charges multiple optical repeaters 3 . In this embodiment, a plurality of diving devices 4 are grouped together, and each group of diving devices 4 is associated with a plurality of optical repeaters 3 . Then, each diving device 4 in the group charges the corresponding plurality of optical repeaters 3 .

For example, as described in Modification 3 of the first embodiment, when the power generator is an external device of the diving device 4, one power generator can be provided in one group. In other words, one power generator charges the charging devices of multiple diving devices 4 in the group. In this case, for example, each diving device 4 in the group may be configured to charge a predetermined one of the corresponding plurality of optical repeaters 3 . Further, as described in the second embodiment, the monitoring control device 5 is provided, and the monitoring control device 5 instructs each diving device 4 in the group which optical repeater 3 is to be charged. can also Furthermore, by making the number of submersible devices 4 in a group sufficiently larger than the number of the corresponding plurality of optical repeaters 3, as described in the fourth modification of the first embodiment, the battery units of the optical repeaters 3 32 may be omitted.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the optical submarine cable system according to this embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that a lifting device 6 corresponding to the diving device 4 is provided. The hoisting device 6 is provided offshore and is wire-connected to the diving device 4 . In this embodiment, the hoisting device 6 hoists the wire to hoist the submersible device 4 that has supplied power to the optical repeater 3 . Depending on the water depth where the optical repeater 3 is arranged, the diving device 4 cannot surface autonomously. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to the optical repeater 3 provided at a depth where the diving device 4 cannot autonomously surface by being pulled up by the hoisting device 6 . Since the wire connected to the diving device 4 is not for power supply, there is no risk of electric leakage unlike the configuration of Patent Document 1. Moreover, since this wire does not always run vertically through the sea, it does not interfere with fishing activities.

<Fifth embodiment>
Next, the fifth embodiment will be described, focusing on differences from the first to fourth embodiments. The optical submarine cable systems of the first to fourth embodiments have a power feeding device 21 installed at the first landing station and a power feeding device 22 installed at the second landing station, had a power line. The optical repeater 3 operates by receiving power transmitted through the feeder line and power wirelessly transmitted from the charging device of the diving device 4 .

In this embodiment, the optical repeater 3 operates only with power wirelessly transmitted from the charging device of the diving device 4 . Therefore, in this embodiment, the power supply device 21, the power supply device 22, and the power supply line in the cable become unnecessary. This configuration simplifies the structure of the cable.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the invention.

33, 34: power unit, 35, 36: light source, 37, 38: optical amplifier

Claims (10)

An optical repeater for an optical submarine cable system,
a power unit that receives wirelessly transmitted power;
one or more light sources that emit pump light based on power supplied from the power unit;
an amplification unit that amplifies signal light with the pump light;
with
The optical repeater, wherein the power unit further receives power transmitted through a feeder line in the cable . the one or more light sources comprising a first light source and a second light source;
The amplification units include a first amplification unit that amplifies signal light using the pump light emitted by the first light source, and a second amplification unit that amplifies signal light using the pump light emitted by the second light source. ,
The optical repeater according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising: the one or more light sources comprising a first light source and a second light source;
2. The amplifying unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical member for outputting the pump light emitted by the first light source and the pump light emitted by the second light source to the amplifying unit. Optical repeater as described. The power unit is
a first power unit for receiving power transmitted via a feeder in the cable;
a second power unit that receives the wirelessly transmitted power;
with
the first light source is powered by the first power unit;
the second light source is powered by the second power unit;
4. The optical repeater according to claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that: 5. The optical repeater according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a charging unit charged by said wirelessly transmitted power. An optical submarine cable system,
one or more optical repeaters operated by wirelessly transmitted power;
a diving device that dives to a position of a predetermined optical repeater among the one or more optical repeaters and wirelessly transmits power to the predetermined optical repeater;
with
The diving device is
a power generator;
a charging device that is charged with power generated by the power generation device;
An optical submarine cable system comprising : An optical submarine cable system,
one or more optical repeaters operated by wirelessly transmitted power;
a power generator;
A charging device is provided that is charged by the power generated by the power generation device, and dives to the position of a predetermined optical repeater among the one or more optical repeaters to wirelessly transmit power to the predetermined optical repeater. a diving device that
with
The optical submarine cable system, wherein the power generating device charges a charging device for each of the plurality of diving devices. An optical submarine cable system,
one or more optical repeaters operated by wirelessly transmitted power;
a diving device that dives to a position of a predetermined optical repeater among the one or more optical repeaters and wirelessly transmits power to the predetermined optical repeater;
a supervisory control device ;
with
The one or more optical repeaters comprise a battery unit charged with power wirelessly transmitted by the diving device, and notifying the supervisory control device of the amount of charge in the battery unit;
The optical submarine cable system, wherein the monitoring control device notifies the diving device of an optical repeater that wirelessly transmits power based on the charge amount. An optical submarine cable system,
one or more optical repeaters operated by wirelessly transmitted power;
a diving device that dives to a position of a predetermined optical repeater among the one or more optical repeaters and wirelessly transmits power to the predetermined optical repeater;
a lifting device wire-connected to the diving device for lifting the diving device that has submerged at the position of the predetermined optical repeater ;
An optical submarine cable system comprising : An optical submarine cable system,
one or more optical repeaters operated by wirelessly transmitted power;
a diving device that dives to a position of a predetermined optical repeater among the one or more optical repeaters and wirelessly transmits power to the predetermined optical repeater;
with
An optical submarine cable system, wherein the one or more optical repeaters are also operated by power transmitted through feeders in the cable.

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