KR100868973B1 - An apparutus for distributing an image signal using a planer lightwave circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image distribution apparatus using a PLC, the image distribution apparatus transmitting an image signal generated from one or more sources to a plurality of receivers, comprising: a signal converter converting an input image signal into an optical signal and outputting the optical signal; A wavelength division multiplexing unit for receiving an optical signal from the signal conversion unit, converting the input optical signal wavelength into an optical signal wavelength of the WDM method, and forming one input optical waveguide and N output optical waveguides. And an optical splitter configured to receive the optical signal outputted from the input unit and split the input optical signals along the N output optical waveguides, and output the splitter. It is characterized by converting and converting into an optical signal. According to this, since the image distribution operation can be performed without applying electricity, there is an advantage of minimizing signal distortion due to EMI.

Video Distribution Device, WDM, PLC, Optical Distribution, PLC Splitter.

Description

An apparutus for distributing an image signal using a planer lightwave circuit}

1 is a use state diagram of an image distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of an image distribution apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a part of FIG. 2;

4 is a block diagram of a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a diagram illustrating a general image divider.

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

100. Video source 200. Video distribution device

210. Signal converter 211. Laser diode

212.Driver IC 220. Wavelength Division Multiplexer

221. WDM filter 230. Light distribution

231. Input waveguide 232. Output waveguide

240. External Video Connector 250. Optical Adapter

300. Receiver 400. Imaging device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image distribution apparatus, and more particularly, to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) for converting an image signal generated from one or more sources into a predetermined optical signal and distributing the image signal converted into the optical signal to a plurality of receivers. It relates to an image distribution device used.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) refers to a broadcast standard for protecting multimedia content in high definition television (HDTV), and is an interface for transmitting uncompressed full digital audio / video with a single cable.

HDMI is like a combination of three component jacks and two analog audio jacks. That is, since HDMI transmits audio / video simultaneously, there is an advantage that a single line can be solved when connecting two multimedia devices. In particular, as it supports enhanced high definition video and digital audio and is compatible with common DVI terminals, almost all devices supporting video such as graphic cards, digital TVs and projectors are equipped with HDMI terminals.

Recently, a cable supporting an HDMI terminal and a splitter for distributing it have emerged. In general, an image divider refers to an apparatus for dividing one or several image signals into a plurality of output signals having the same quality. For example, such a video splitter is required when a video signal output from one computer is to be viewed on multiple monitors.

The conventional video distribution method has a problem that the signal is distorted as compared with the original video signal because the analog signal is amplified and supplied in the middle. In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 5, the splitter 2 receives the serial digital video signal output from the video reproducing apparatus 1 and supplies the serial digital video signal to another splitter and simultaneously converts the serial digital video signal into an analog video signal. A distributor having a function of outputting to a plurality of display apparatuses 3 has been proposed.

However, these dividers are sensitive to electromagnetic interference (EMI) because they distribute the electrical signal directly. Therefore, when the length of the line is long, there is also a very big problem that the signal distortion phenomenon may occur. In addition, when the number of receiving apparatuses to receive the divided signal increases, the volume of the divider increases with the power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. When distributing video signals generated from one or more sources to a plurality of receivers, an electrical video signal is predetermined to reduce signal distortion due to EMI and to reduce power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image distribution apparatus using a planar lightwave circuit that converts an optical signal into a plurality of receivers using a planar lightwave circuit.

An image distribution apparatus using a PLC according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

An image distribution apparatus for transmitting an image signal generated from one or more sources to a plurality of receivers, the image distribution apparatus comprising: a signal converter converting an input image signal into an optical signal and outputting the optical signal; A wavelength division multiplexer which receives an optical signal from the signal converter and converts the input optical signal wavelength into an optical signal wavelength of a WDM method; And an input optical waveguide and N output optical waveguides, an optical distribution unit configured to receive an optical signal output from the wavelength division multiplexer and branch the input optical signals along the N output optical waveguides. And the wavelength division multiplexing unit and the light distribution unit are integrally formed on a planar light wave circuit to convert and distribute an image signal into an optical signal.

In addition, the video signal is preferably a digital video signal, the signal conversion unit comprises a laser diode, the laser diode preferably generates an optical signal of 1310nm or 1550nm wavelength.

In addition, it is preferable that the optical splitter has eight output optical waveguides, four signal converters are formed, and two optical splitters are formed to convert the input image signals into two to thirty-two optical signals. It is desirable to dispense.

Hereinafter, an image distribution apparatus using a PLC according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates a state of use of an image distribution apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, when an electrical image signal generated from a predetermined image source 100 is input to an image distribution apparatus 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the input image signal is transmitted from a signal converter 210. The optical signal is converted into an optical signal, and the converted optical signal is multiplexed into one channel in the wavelength division multiplexer 220, and then the image signal converted into the optical signal in the optical splitter 230 is divided into respective receivers 300. Is sent). The receiver 300 converts an image signal converted into an optical signal to an electrical image signal and transmits the converted image signal to each image device 400. In this case, the same image as the screen output to the image source 100 is displayed on each image device 400. The image source 100 and the image device 400 refer to various multimedia devices such as a TV, a set top box, a monitor, or a DVD player.

2 is a block diagram of an image distribution apparatus 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the external image connector 240, the signal conversion unit 210, the wavelength division multiplexer 220, and the light distribution unit are shown. 230 and optical adapter 250.

When a high quality digital video signal (DVI or HDMI) is input to the signal converter 210 for each channel through an external video connector 240, the signal converter 210 converts the input video signal into an optical signal. . The signal converter 210 includes a light emitting device 211 such as a light emitting diode (LED), an injection laser diode (ILD), or a laser diode (LD) to convert an electrical image signal into an optical signal. In addition, the light emitting device 211 preferably generates an optical signal having a wavelength of 1310 nm or 1550 nm.

For example, when an HDMI signal is input to the external video connector 240, video signals of four channels of R, G, B, and C are input to the signal converter 210, respectively. Since each signal input to the signal conversion unit 210 is a digital signal, the driving IC 212 is controlled, and then, under the control of the driving IC 212, the light emitting device 211 has an optical signal having a wavelength of 1310 nm or 1550 nm. Will be generated.

In this case, as illustrated, four signal conversion units 210 are formed to convert the video signals passed through the external video connector 240 into optical signals of four channels.

The wavelength division multiplexer 220 receives an optical signal from the signal converter 210, converts the input optical signal wavelength into an optical signal wavelength of a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) method, and outputs the WDM filter. Can be used. WDM is a communication method that transmits through one optical fiber by binding different wavelengths.

Since the signal converter 210 outputs four channels of optical signals having different wavelengths, the wavelength division multiplexer 220 combines the optical signals into one channel. At this time, as shown in the drawing, two wavelength division multiplexing units 220 are formed to bundle four optical signals of four channels output from the signal conversion unit 210 (Mux).

The optical splitter 230 has one input optical waveguide and N output optical waveguides formed therein to distribute the output optical signal of the wavelength division multiplexer 220. That is, the optical signal output from the wavelength division multiplexer 220 is input to the input optical waveguide of the optical splitter 230 and is branched along the N output optical waveguides. At this time, the wavelength division multiplexing unit 220 and the light distribution unit 230 is preferably formed integrally as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the WDM filter 221 is formed in the wavelength division multiplexer 220 to multiplex the optical signal transmitted from the signal converter 210 (refer to FIG. 2). In order to divert the output from one place to a desired place, one input optical waveguide 231 and eight output optical waveguides 232 are preferably formed. In this case, the wavelength division multiplexing unit 220 and the optical distribution unit The 230 may be integrally manufactured using a planar lightwave circuit (PLC).

Planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology refers to a technology for flatly attaching and arranging devices on a silicon substrate by a combination of optical fiber technology and large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) manufacturing technology. The light distribution unit 230 is preferably a PLC splitter manufactured using such a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology.

Therefore, if the wavelength division multiplexing unit 220 and the light distribution unit 230 are used by using such PLC technology, unlike the conventional electric image distribution device, product integration is possible, power consumption is low, and is not affected by EMI. do.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the optical signal branched from the optical distribution unit 230 is transmitted along a predetermined transmission line via the optical adapter 250. The optical adapter 250 may use an SC or LC type optical adapter. 2 illustrates that two light distribution units 230 made of a PLC are formed. Therefore, it is obvious that the first output of the first light distribution unit 230a and the first output of the second light distribution unit 230b should be combined and transmitted to two fibers.

The video signal converted into the optical signal as described above is transmitted to a predetermined receiver 300 (see FIG. 1) using a single-mode fiber, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating such a receiver 300. .

In FIG. 4, the receiver 300 performs a reverse function of the image distribution device 200 (see FIG. 2). That is, when an optical signal is input, the restoration unit 310 restores the input optical signal to an electrical image signal using a light receiving element such as a photodiode PD. In addition, the reconstructed video signal is amplified by the amplifier 320 and is then input to the imaging device 400 through a predetermined connector 330.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments. That is, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make many changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and all such appropriate changes and modifications are possible. Equivalents should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, according to the video distribution apparatus using the PLC according to the present invention,

First, unlike conventional electric video distribution device, the small volume PLC can be used to reduce the overall volume of the device and can be transmitted using only two fibers, which is useful in terms of space efficiency when using a saturated pipeline.

Second, it is possible to integrate the product through an optical distribution unit such as a PLC splitter and to perform an image distribution operation without applying electricity, thus contributing to energy saving due to small power consumption.

Third, the image distribution device using the PLC according to the present invention has the advantage that the long-distance transmission can be minimized by the influence of EMI because the signal is split by using the optical fiber.

Claims (5)

In the image distribution device for transmitting a video signal generated from one or more sources to a plurality of receivers, A signal converter converting the input video signal into an optical signal and outputting the converted optical signal; A wavelength division multiplexer which receives an optical signal from the signal converter and converts the input optical signal wavelength into an optical signal wavelength of a WDM method; And One input optical waveguide and N output optical waveguides are formed, and includes an optical distribution unit which receives the optical signal output from the wavelength division multiplexer and splits the input optical signals along the N output optical waveguides. , The wavelength division multiplexing unit and the light distribution unit are integrally formed on a planar light wave circuit to convert and distribute an image signal into an optical signal. And eight output optical waveguides are formed in the optical distribution unit. The method of claim 1, And the video signal is a digital video signal. The method of claim 1, The signal conversion unit includes a laser diode, The laser diode is an image distribution device using a planar lightwave circuit, characterized in that for generating an optical signal of 1310nm or 1550nm wavelength. delete The method of claim 1, Four signal conversion units are formed, and two light distribution units are formed. The image distribution apparatus using the planar lightwave circuit, characterized in that for converting and distributing the input image signal into 2 to 32 optical signals.

Images