KR100746736B1 - Apparatus for controlling the optical power - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical power control device is provided. The optical power control device adjusts the power of the optical signal output by adjusting the offset of the connection surface of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, the offset of the connection surface is the optical variable portion and the light is adjusted through the pressure in the vertical direction of the optical fiber It includes a mux for receiving an optical signal whose power is adjusted through the variable portion.

E-PON, CWDM-PON, Optical Variable

Description

Apparatus for controlling the optical power

1 is a block diagram of a conventional E-PON system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating optical variability by optical distance of a conventional E-PON system.

3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional CWDM-PON system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating optical variability of light by distance of a conventional CWDM-PON system.

5 is a block diagram of an optical power control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a detailed configuration of the optical power control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view showing that the sensor unit is configured as a sensor button for detecting the opening of the shutter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a view showing the power of the optical signal output according to the opening and closing operation of the shutter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a view showing a cross section before and after applying pressure to the ferrol in the optical variable portion configured using the ferrol in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating attenuation rate of optical signal power according to an offset of a connection surface of a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

12: WG

32: MUX / DEMUX

100: optical connector

300: optical power control device

400: terminal

130: shutter 511: sensor button

901 ferrule 902 optical fiber 905 spring

The present invention relates to an optical power control device, and more particularly, to an optical power control device for adjusting the power of the optical signal output from the optical cable.

Recently, the Passive Optical Network (PON) system has been in the spotlight to implement FTTH (Fiber To The Home). The existing method using copper wire has a limitation in providing a service that integrates video, voice, and high speed data video of 100Mbps band. Therefore, the PON system transmits data using optical connector in place of the communication method using such copper wire. .

FTTH connects optical connectors to all homes and enables all services including broadcasting and communication into one network. Its development includes housing-type optical subscriber transmission system, optical distribution and connection technology, sensor technology, and research on optical connectors, Research is underway on advanced application technologies, such as large-capacity ATM switches, distributed systems, and subscribers' networking. In addition, there are various forms of optical subscriber line such as STAR, RING, and BUS, but PON is preferred as the most future-oriented and economical way.

The PON system consists of OLT (Optical Line Terminal) equipment located in the national office, ONT (Optical Network Terminal) equipment located in the subscriber's premises, and ONU (Optical Network Unit) equipment located in the residential area communication district, between OLT and ONT. Is divided into a WG (Wave Guide) for dividing an optical signal by 1: N. In addition, it can be separated by the method of sending a wavelength to one strand of the optical core, E-PON (Ethernet-PON) method using a 1313nm upstream and 1490nm upstream in the case of a single wavelength, 20nm wavelength of 1260nm ~ 1311nm range CWDM-PON (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexer-PON) method that can be sent separately and 18nm channel Wavelength Division Multiplexer-PON)

1 is a block diagram of a conventional E-PON system.

The E-PON system is composed of OLT, WG 12, and ONT. One OLT can be branched into a 1: 4, 1: 8, 1:16, 1:32 through an optical splitter branch in a wave guide (WG) 12, and the ONT terminal can be connected by the number of branches. The optical signal transmitted from the TxLD 10 of the OLT is branched from the WT 12 to ONT1 to ONTn, and the optical signal of the appropriate level received from the RxPD 14 is the distance from the OLT to the WG and the WG 12 RxPD AVG. Signal minus the optical loss from the distance from the optical connector to the optical connector length (ln). 24.5 dBm = (l + WG branch ratio + l n).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating optical variability by optical distance of a conventional E-PON system.

The signal output from the TxLD (10) of the E-PON system has different optical loss depending on the number of branches of the WG (12). In case of 1: 4 branch, the attenuation ratio is -7dBm and the attenuation ratio per km is -0.3 dBm. If the distance from the OLT to the WG (12) is 10 km, the light lost in the middle is -3.0 dBm, and the attenuation ratio is -0.3 dBm for the 1 km from the WG (12) to the ONT, and the appropriate optical level in the ONT1 RxPD (14) In order to receive -24.5 dBm, an attenuation of -14.2 dBm is required in the optical attenuator (OA) 13. The optical variable attenuation rate is determined by the number of optical splitter branches and the optical connector transmission distance.

From the WG (12) to ONT, the optical attenuation rate by optical branch by distance is -14.20dBm ~ -11.5dBm (20) for 1: 4 quarter, and -10.70dBm ~-for 1: 8 quarter In the case of 8.0dBm (21) and 1:16 branch, the light decay rate is -7.70dBm ~ -5.0dBm (22).

3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional CWDM-PON system.

Since CWDM-PON uses various wavelengths, the system is designed considering the attenuation ratio according to the distance rather than the attenuation by the branch. The optical attenuation rate according to the distance has the same characteristics as the E-PON. 33) to adjust the light reception level input to the RxPD 31. A description with FIG. 4 is as follows.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating optical variability of light by distance of a conventional CWDM-PON system.

When the light is transmitted from the OLT1 port TxLD 30 to the RxPD 34 of the ONT through the Mux / Demux 32, the attenuation rate 40 according to the distance at the optical variable end OA 33 is shown. When the distance is 1 ~ 10km, the light attenuation rate of -24.5dBm at the proper light reception needs -13.2dbm to -10.5dBm.

On the other hand, FTTH can be implemented using A (ATM) -PON and B (Broadband), which can provide data, voice, and video services by using a single wavelength in one optical core to utilize ATM and Ethernet networks. -PON, G (Gigabit Ethernet)-PON and CWDM-PON and DWDM-PON using multiple wavelengths are used. This method can also be used in optical connector networks and optical mobile communication networks.

However, such an optical communication can control the power of the output signal from the equipment according to the distance in the case of the existing copper wire, while there is no device that can control the optical output from the domestic company to the subscriber's home. It is used to fix the maximum optical output of + 3dBm to reach the optical signal from OLT to ONT through RN (Remote Node), or to amplify a specific wavelength further using optical amplifier and transmit it over long distance. .

Therefore, the position of OLT to ONU (Optical Network Unit) or ONT is different depending on the distance, so it is not possible to receive a signal at the optical reception input terminal of ONU (or ONT), or it is expensive to use an expensive optical power input signal. This can damage the module and shorten its life.

In addition, the service provider should prepare various types of optical attenuators such as 1 ~ 15dBm when using the existing fixed attenuator, and if the distance of the terminal location changes, an additional attenuator should be purchased. It can cause an increase.

On the other hand, when the user looks at the optical connector output terminal or the optical output of the ONT terminal, the optical signal may cause damage to the retina of the eye.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical power control device capable of adjusting the power of an optical signal.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects which are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the optical power control device according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the power of the optical signal output by adjusting the offset of the connection surface of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, the offset of the connection surface And a mux for receiving an optical signal whose power is adjusted through the optical variable portion and the optical variable portion adjusted through the pressure in the vertical direction of the optical fiber.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a block diagram of an optical power control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

There is an optical power control device 300 included in the optical device 200 to which the optical connector 100 is connected, and the optical power control device 300 controls and outputs the power of the optical signal, and then outputs the optical signal to the terminal ( 400). As an exemplary optical connector 100, an SC type optical connector (F04 type single-core optical connector in JIS) and FC type optical connector (for FIS type single core optical connector in JIS) may be used. The terminal 400 includes an ONT and an OLT terminal. Optical power control device 300 can be installed at the input terminal of the OLT or ONT irrespective of the wavelength and can be applied to E-PON, WDM-PON and CWDM-PON system.

Figure 6 is a detailed configuration of the optical power control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The optical power control device 300 includes an optical adapter module unit 320 and an optical transmission module module 310.

The optical adapter module unit 320 includes a sensor unit 321 and an optical variable unit 322.

The sensor unit 321 detects the input of the optical signal through the reception of the optical signal or the opening of the shutter when the optical connector 100 is inserted through the entrance of the shutter. The optical signal may be an optical signal in the form of Tx, Rx in a WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexed) optical transmission network. The inlet of the shutter may be configured to be open / closed as an optical connector 100 is inserted into the optical power control device 300. When the optical connector 100 is inserted and the entrance of the shutter is opened, the optical signal is sent to the mux 313.

When the optical fiber of the optical connector 100 is connected to the optical fiber in the optical device, the optical variable part 322 controls the power of the optical signal by adjusting the offset of the connection surface of the two optical fibers connected. As a method of adjusting the power of the optical signal, a method of generating optical loss through an offset of ferrules connected to each other by applying pressure in the vertical direction of the ferrules is connected.

The optical transmission module module 310 includes a control switch unit 311, a transmitter 312, a mux 313 and a receiver 314.

The control switch unit 311 operates in an on / off state according to a signal from the sensor unit 321 which detects when the shutter is opened. When the control switch 311 is in the On state, the optical signal of the transmitter 312 is output, while in the Off state, the output of the optical signal of the transmitter 312 is cut off in advance.

The transmitter 312 transmits an optical signal to be transmitted by the terminal 400 to the mux 313.

The mux 313 controls the optical signal transmitted or received, and adjusts the power of the optical signal transmitted and received through the optical variable unit 322.

The receiver 314 transmits the optical signal received from the mux 313 to the terminal 400.

7 is a view showing that the sensor unit is configured as a sensor button for detecting the opening of the shutter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the shutter 130 is configured to be positioned inside the entrance, the sensor button 511 is placed at the top so that the sensor button 511 is pressed when the shutter 130 is opened. It can be modified in various forms such as to be configured to generate a signal of the sensor unit 321.

In addition, as shown in Figure 7 (b), when the shutter 130 is configured to be located outside the entrance, likewise configured a sensor button 511 on the top sensor button 511 when the shutter 130 is opened ) Can be pressed to generate a signal from the sensor unit 321. In addition to the button type as described above, it may be configured to generate a signal of the sensor unit 321 by configuring the sensor, LED, and the like. The shutter 130 may be deformed in various forms such as an up-down direction in the vertical direction, a form of opening or closing in the left-right direction.

8 is a view showing the power of the optical signal output according to the opening and closing operation of the shutter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the inlet of the shutter 130 is opened / closed, the power of the optical signal output for each is divided into the case where the inlet of the shutter 130 is opened and the inlet of the shutter 130 is sequentially explained. .

First, when the male connector 110 is inserted into the shutter 130 and the inlet of the shutter 130 is opened, a signal is generated by the sensor button 511. The optical signal transmitted from the male connector 110 connected through the inlet of the shutter 130 is properly changed in the optical variable part 322 and transmitted to the mux 313. The control switch unit 311 operates the light output of the transmitter 312 to the ON state by the signal generated by the sensor button 511, and outputs the optical signal of the transmitter 312 to the mux 313.

On the other hand, when the shutter 130 is closed and no signal is generated by the sensor button 511, the mux 313 does not receive the optical signal, and the control switch unit 311 controls the light output of the transmitter 312. Operate in Off state. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the signal of the sensor button 511 is T_on, the optical signal is output (800), and when T_off, the operation waveform for blocking the output of the optical signal is shown (801). Therefore, when the user looks at the output terminal of the optical connector or the optical output of the ONT terminal, it is possible to prevent the cause of damage to the retina of the eye by the optical signal.

9 is a view showing a cross section before and after applying pressure to the ferrol in the optical variable portion configured using the ferrol in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the optical fiber 902 (first optical fiber) of the optical variable part 322 is applied before the screw 900 is applied to the first ferrol 901 to apply a pressure 907. Since the optical fiber 910 (second optical fiber) of the male optical connector 110 connected to each other is brought into axial parallel contact with each other, the center line 904 of the connection surface coincides with each other, so that optical loss of the optical signal output is small.

As shown in FIG. 9 (b), for example, after applying a pressure 907 by turning the screw 900 on the first ferrol 901 of the first optical fiber 902, the first optical fiber 902 and The offset 908 is generated on the connection surface between the second optical fibers 910 to generate an optical loss in the optical signal output. The pressure 907 may be configured to adjust the strength of the pressure 907 according to the number of times of tightening or slowing the screw 900 in the vertical direction of the first ferrol 901. In addition to the screw 900, the pressure means can be configured to adjust the strength of the pressure 907 in a variety of forms, such as electric / magnetic pressure, push / pull method. Ferrol can be manufactured from stainless steel, polymer, ceramic, alumina (alumina, Al₂O₃), zirconia (ZrO₂), elastomer, and the like. The sleeve 906 may be embedded in the housing 903 to maintain the ferrol.

On the other hand, when the shock absorbing member 905 is formed at the lower end of the first ferrol 901 which receives the pressure 907 from the upper end, and the screw 900 is tightened again, the first ferrol 901 and the second ferrol ( The offset 908 between 909 may be narrowed back to the original position. Such a buffer member 905 can be configured using a variety of materials such as spring, rubber with a restoring force.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating attenuation rate of optical signal power according to an offset of a connection surface of a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Attenuation rate of the optical signal power according to the offset 908 of the connection surface of the first optical fiber 902 and the second optical fiber 910 for each type of SM fiber (1000), MFE 20μm (1001) and MFE 30μm (1002) Indicates. For example, in the case of the SM fiber 1000, when the offset 908 of the connection surface between the first optical fiber 902 and the second optical fiber 910 occurs 5 μm, the power of the optical signal of about 5 dBm is attenuated. In the case of 15μm, the attenuation effect is about 20dBM.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

According to the optical power control device of the present invention as described above has one or more of the following effects.

First, there is an advantage that can control the power of the optical signal output from the optical cable.

Second, there is an advantage that can prevent the optical signal from damaging the retina of the user's eyes.

Claims (8)

Sensor unit for detecting the optical signal of the optical connector; A control switch unit controlling an output of the optical signal according to the detection of the optical signal of the sensor unit; An optical variable part adjusting power of the optical signal output by adjusting an offset between a connection surface of a first optical fiber of the optical device and a second optical fiber of the optical connector; And And a mux for receiving the optical signal whose power is adjusted through the optical variable unit, and the offset of the connection surface is adjusted through a pressure in a vertical direction of at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber. Regulator. delete According to claim 1, The sensor unit comprises an openable shutter, optical power control device. The method of claim 3, wherein The sensor unit further comprises a sensor button that is selectively pressed according to the opening and closing of the shutter. According to claim 1, And a transmitter to block the output of the optical signal according to the control of the control switch unit. According to claim 1, And the optical variable part includes pressure means for lowering the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber and the first optical fiber which are in abutting contact in parallel in the axial direction. The method of claim 6, The optical variable unit further comprises a buffer member located at the lower end of the first optical fiber to restore the first optical fiber lowered by the pressure means to the original position. The method of claim 6, Pressure means for lowering the first optical fiber is composed of a screw optical power adjusting device.

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