An optical transceiver module includes an optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert a first optical signal to a first electric signal, a first amplifier configured to amplify the first electric signal, a bandwidth controller coupled to the first amplifier, configured to control the frequency response characteristics of the amplification of the first amplifier to produce a first amplified electric signal, a driver circuit configured to receive a second electric signal and to produce a second amplified electric signal in response to the second electric signal and an optical feedback signal, an electrical-to-optical converter coupled to the micro-controller and configured to convert the second amplified electrical signal to a second optical signal, and a photo diode configured to detect the second optical signal and to produce the optical feedback signal to be received by the driver circuit.
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0. 35. A method of receiving and transmitting optical signals, comprising:
converting an electrical input signal into a driver signal at a data rate that is based on and that varies with a first command signal;
converting the driver signal into an optical output signal and at a variable output power that is based on and that varies with the first command signal, the optical output signal carrying data of the driver signal;
converting an input optical signal into a first electrical signal; and
amplifying the first electrical signal to generate an output electrical signal, the first electrical signal having a modifiable bandwidth that is controlled by a second command signal.
0. 7. An optical transceiver, comprising:
an electrical interface that receives an input electrical signal and that outputs an electrical output signal;
an optical interface that receives an input optical signal on which the electrical output signal is based and that outputs an optical output signal based on the electrical input signal;
a driver circuit that converts the electrical input signal into a driver signal, the driver circuit generating the driver signal at a power that is based on a feedback control signal;
an electrical to optical converter coupled to the driver circuit to convert the driver signal into the optical output signal, the optical output signal carrying data of the driver signal at a first data rate, the electrical to optical converter outputting the optical output signal at a variable output power controlled by a receiver data control signal;
a photo diode that monitors the optical output signal and generates the feedback control signal;
an optical to electrical converter that converts the input optical signal into a first electrical signal;
an amplifier coupled to the optical to electrical converter to amplify the first electrical signal and generate the output electrical signal, the amplifier having a modifiable bandwidth that is controlled by the receiver data control signal.
0. 24. An optical transceiver, comprising:
an electrical interface that receives an input electrical signal and that outputs an electrical output signal;
an optical interface that receives an input optical signal on which the electrical output signal is based and that outputs an optical output signal based on the electrical input signal;
a driver circuit receiving the electrical input signal or a variation thereof, and producing a driver signal at a data rate that is based on and that varies with a transmitter data control signal, the driver circuit receiving a feedback control signal controlling a power of the driver signal;
an electrical to optical converter coupled to the driver circuit to convert the driver signal into the optical output signal, the electrical to optical converter outputting the optical output signal at a variable output power that is based on and that varies with the transmitter data control signal;
a photo diode that monitors the optical output signal and that generates the feedback control signal;
an optical to electrical converter that converts the input optical signal into a first electrical signal;
an amplifier coupled to the optical to electrical converter to amplify the first electrical signal and generate the output electrical signal, the amplifier having a modifiable bandwidth that is controlled by a bandwidth control signal; and
a bandwidth controller coupled to receive a receiver data control signal, the bandwidth controller producing the bandwidth control signal.
0. 15. An optical transceiver, comprising:
an electrical interface that receives an input electrical signal and that outputs an electrical output signal;
an optical interface that receives an input optical signal on which the electrical output signal is based and that outputs an optical output signal based on the electrical input signal;
a driver circuit receiving the electrical input signal or a variation thereof, and producing a driver signal at a data rate that is based on and that varies with a transmitter data control signal, the driver circuit receiving a feedback control signal controlling a power of the driver signal;
an electrical to optical converter coupled to the driver circuit to convert the driver signal into the optical output signal, the electrical to optical converter outputting the optical output signal at a variable output power that is based on and that varies with the transmitter data control signal;
a photo diode that monitors the optical output signal and generates the feedback control signal;
an optical to electrical converter that converts the input optical signal into a first electrical signal;
an amplifier coupled to the optical to electrical converter, to receive and amplify the first electrical signal and generate the output electrical signal, the amplifier having a modifiable bandwidth that is controlled by a bandwidth control signal; and
a bandwidth controller coupled to receive the transmitter data control signal, the bandwidth controller producing the bandwidth control signal.
1. An optical transceiver that receives and transmits signals of various data rates and power levels, comprising:
an electrical interface comprising an electrical input port that receives an input electrical signal, a first user command input port that receives a first user command signal, an electrical output port that outputs an electrical output signal and a second user command input port that receives a second user command signal;
an optical interface comprising an optical input port that receives an input optical signal based on which the electrical output signal is generated at the electrical interface, and an optical output port that outputs an optical output signal based on the electrical input signal received at the electrical interface;
a driver circuit coupled to the electrical input port to receive the electrical input signal and responsive to a control of the first user command signal in converting the electrical input signal into a driver signal at a data rate that is based on and varies with the first user command signal, the driver circuit coupled to receive a power feedback control signal and controlling a power level of the driver signal based on the received power feedback control signal;
an electrical to optical converter coupled to the driver circuit to convert the driver signal into the optical output signal carrying data of the driver signal at the data rate;
a monitoring photo diode that detects light of the optical output signal to generate the power feedback control signal to the driver circuit;
an optical to electrical converter coupled to the optical input port and converting the input optical signal into a first electrical signal;
an amplifier coupled to the optical to electrical converter to receive and amplify the first electrical signal to generate the output electrical signal, the amplifier receiving a bandwidth control signal and adjusting a bandwidth of the amplifier in generating the output electrical signal in response to the bandwidth control signal; and
a bandwidth controller coupled to receive the second user command signal and producing the bandwidth control signal based on the second user command signal.
4. An optical transceiver that receives and transmits signals of various data rates and power levels, comprising:
an electrical interface comprising an electrical input port that receives an input electrical signal, and an electrical output port that outputs an electrical output signal;
an optical interface comprising an optical input port that receives an input optical signal based on which the electrical output signal is generated at the electrical interface, and an optical output port that outputs an optical output signal based on the electrical input signal received at the electrical interface;
a driver circuit coupled to the electrical input port to receive the electrical input signal and responsive to a transmitter data control signal in converting the electrical input signal into a driver signal at a data rate that is based on and varies with the transmitter data control signal, the driver circuit coupled to receive a power feedback control signal and controlling a power level of the driver signal based on the received power feedback control signal;
a transmitter data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the input electrical signal and producing the transmitter data control signal;
an electrical to optical converter coupled to the driver circuit to convert the driver signal into the optical output signal carrying data of the driver signal at the data rate;
a monitoring photo diode that detects light of the optical output signal to generate the power feedback control signal to the driver circuit;
an optical to electrical converter coupled to the optical input port and converting the input optical signal into a first electrical signal;
an amplifier coupled to the optical to electrical converter to receive and amplify the first electrical signal to generate the output electrical signal, the amplifier receiving a bandwidth control signal and adjusting a bandwidth of the amplifier in generating the output electrical signal in response to the bandwidth control signal;
a receiver data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the first electrical signal output by the optical to electrical converter and producing the receiver data control signal based on the detected data rate; and
a bandwidth controller coupled to receive the receiver data control signal and producing the bandwidth control signal based on the receiver data control signal.
2. The optical transceiver as in
3. The optical transceiver as in
5. The optical transceiver as in
6. The optical transceiver as in
0. 8. The optical transceiver as in claim 7, further comprising a receiver data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the first electrical signal, the receiver data rate detector producing the receiver data control signal based on the detected data rate of the first electrical signal.
0. 9. The optical transceiver as in claim 7, wherein the receiver data control signal is controlled by software.
0. 10. The optical transceiver as in claim 7, wherein the optical interface determines an operation mode for the optical transceiver through hand-shaking.
0. 11. The optical transceiver as in claim 10, wherein the operation mode sets the first data rate and a data rate of the input optical signal through remote provisioning by a link party.
0. 12. The optical transceiver as in claim 8, wherein the amplifier comprises (i) a transimpedance amplifier receiving the first electrical signal and providing an amplified electrical signal, and (ii) a limiting amplifier receiving the amplified electrical signal and providing the output electrical signal.
0. 13. The optical transceiver as in claim 12, wherein the receiver data rate detector controls a bandwidth of the transimpedance amplifier, a difference in the bandwidth of the transimpedance amplifier results in a difference in sensitivity of the input optical signal, and the sensitivity of the input optical signal is modified to fit a data rate of the input optical signal.
0. 14. The optical transceiver as in claim 8, wherein the receiver data rate detector is configured to control frequency response characteristics of the amplifier.
0. 16. The optical transceiver as in claim 15, wherein the photo diode (i) monitors an intensity, power or strength of a monitoring optical signal from the electrical to optical converter and (ii) produces the feedback control signal in accordance with or based on the intensity or strength of the monitoring optical signal.
0. 17. The optical transceiver as in claim 15, wherein the driver circuit produces a bias voltage and a driving current for the electrical to optical converter, and the feedback control signal is configured to modify or adjust the bias voltage and/or the driving current of the driver circuit to control the output power of the optical output signal.
0. 18. The optical transceiver as in claim 17, wherein the output power of the optical output signal is regulated by an EEPROM having values set by the feedback control signal.
0. 19. The optical transceiver as in claim 17, further comprising a micro-controller that controls the bias voltage and the driver current of the driver circuit.
0. 20. The optical transceiver as in claim 19, wherein the electrical interface further comprises a user command input that receives a user command signal, and the micro-controller receives the user command signal.
0. 21. The optical transceiver as in claim 19, wherein the micro-controller includes a memory to store software instructions.
0. 22. The optical transceiver as in claim 19, further comprising a transmitter data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the electrical input signal and producing the transmitter data control signal based on the detected data rate of the first electrical signal.
0. 23. The optical transceiver as in claim 15, wherein the transmitter data control signal is controlled by software.
0. 25. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein a change in data rate of the input optical signal changes the bandwidth of the amplifier, and a change in the transmitter data control signal changes a data rate and power of the optical output signal.
0. 26. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein the electrical interface further comprises a user command input that receives a user command signal.
0. 27. The optical transceiver as in claim 26, wherein the user command signal consists of a single control signal that sets data transmission and data reception at a same rate.
0. 28. The optical transceiver as in claim 26, wherein the user command signal comprises first and second control lines that allow different data rates for data transmission and data reception.
0. 29. The optical transceiver as in claim 28, further comprising a micro-controller that receives the transmitter data control signal on the first control line, wherein the bandwidth controller receives a second user command signal on the second control line, the bandwidth controller producing the bandwidth control signal based on the second user command signal.
0. 30. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, further comprising:
a) a receiver data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the first electrical signal, the receiver data rate detector producing a receiver data control signal based on the detected data rate of the first electrical signal, and the bandwidth controller producing the bandwidth control signal based on the receiver data control signal;
b) a transmitter data rate detector coupled to detect a data rate of the electrical input signal and producing a data rate set up signal; and
c) a micro-controller that receives the data rate set up signal and controls a bias voltage and a driving current of the driver circuit.
0. 31. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein the bandwidth control signal is controlled by software.
0. 32. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein the optical interface determines an operation mode for the optical transceiver through hand-shaking, and the operation mode sets the first data rate and a data rate of the input optical signal through remote provisioning by a link party.
0. 33. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein the amplifier comprises:
a) a transimpedance amplifier receiving the first electrical signal and providing an amplified electrical signal, wherein the bandwidth controller controls a bandwidth of the transimpedance amplifier, and
b) a limiting amplifier receiving the amplified electrical signal and providing the output electrical signal.
0. 34. The optical transceiver as in claim 24, wherein the bandwidth controller is configured to control frequency response characteristics of the amplifier.
0. 36. The method as in claim 35, wherein a difference in the modifiable bandwidth of the first electrical signal results in a difference in sensitivity of the input optical signal, and the sensitivity of the input optical signal is modified to fit a data rate of the input optical signal.
0. 37. The method as in claim 35, wherein the first command signal and the second command signal are represented by one or more mode signals that set desired data rates for data transmission and data reception.
0. 38. The method as in claim 35, wherein a change in the first command signal changes a data rate of the optical output signal, and a change in the second command signal changes a data rate of the optical input signal.
0. 39. The method as in claim 35, wherein the power of the driver signal corresponds to a bias voltage and a driving current, and the method further comprises controlling a power of the driver signal based on a feedback control signal, the feedback control signal adjusting the bias voltage and/or the driving current to control an output power of the optical output signal.
0. 40. The method as in claim 35, further comprising determining an operation mode for the optical transceiver through hand-shaking.
0. 41. The method as in claim 40, wherein the operation mode sets the data rates of the driver signal and the input optical signal through remote provisioning by a link party.
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coverts convert the received optical signals into electrical signals. The optical transceiver 100 can also convert electrical signals into optical signals and transmits transmit the converted optical signals to an optical fiber. The optical transceiver 100 include includes an electrical to optical converter (for transmit purposes), and an optical-to-electrical converter (for receive purposes), a driver providing proper bias voltage and modulation for transmission of the output optical signals, and a limiting amplifier providing proper signal amplification for the optical-to-electrical converter.
It is desirable for an optical transceiver to be in compliance with industry standards. The different industry standards have define defined requirements on the optical interface and the electric interface of an optical transceiver. In particular, different industry standards require different input and output powers to and from an optical transceiver.
A conventional optical transceiver is built to transmit and receive data at a fixed data rate. An optical transceiver for 100 Mbps Ethernet cannot be used on a 1000 Mbps Ethernet network. However, it is very common that a server and its clients work at different data rates (a server working at 1000 Mbps and some of its clients working at 100 Mbps while its other clients working at 1000 Mbps for example). In this situation, the server needs to be connected with a plurality of optical transceivers that each operates at a different data rate. Furthermore, when a communication device needs to be upgraded from one data rate (e.g. 100 Mbps) to another data rate (e.g. 1000 Mbps), all the old optical transceivers have to be replaced by new optical transceivers capable of transmitting data at the new data rate. The upgrade can thus be costly and time consuming.
For an optical transceiver to operate on multiple data rates, it is desirable to be able to transmit and receive data at multiple data rates at both its electrical interface and its optical interface. The industry standard interfaces for the electrical interface side include for example the Media Independent Interface (MII) and the Gigabit Media Independent Interface (GMII).
On the optical interface side, there has not been a standard solution. The fundamental requirement for a multi-rate optical transceiver is to enable the transceiver to transmit and receive optical signals using a variable input power and a variable output power that satisfy the requirements from various industry standards. In particular, the electrical-to-optical converter needs to output optical signals at a variable output power. The optical-to-electrical converter needs to operate at different sensitivities, in reflect respect of different input powers for different data rates.
Refer Referring to
The output power of the optical output signal 360 can be further controlled by a an optical feedback signal through the feedback control line 319. A monitoring photo diode 317 receives and monitors the intensity of the monitoring optical signal 321 from the electrical to optical converter 311 and produces the feedback control signal in accordance with the intensity of the monitoring optical signal 321. The feedback signal can adjust the bias voltage or driving current of block 312 to control the output power of the optical transmission signal 360.
In the reception path, the optical transceiver 300 takes a first optical signal (i.e. the optical reception signal) 350, and the optical reception signal 350 is converted to a first electrical signal (i.e. the reception electrical signal) at optical-to-electrical converter 314. The converted electrical signal is amplified by Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) 315, followed by a limiting amplifier 316. The amplification can be modified by TIA bandwidth controller 318.
When there is a change in the data rate in the optical reception signal 350, the sensitivity for the optical reception signal 350 needs to be modified to fit the reception data rate. This is done by the bandwidth controller user command input 370. This control signal is received by bandwidth controller 318, which controls the bandwidth of the Trans-Impedance Amplifier 315. Different bandwidth at the TIA 315 makes the sensitivity of the electrical signal from the optical-to-electrical converter 314 different. Thus the optical transceiver 300 can be adjusted to receive data at different data rates.
A variety of implementations exist for the control lines 340 and 370. Control lines 340 and 370 can be a single control that can set data transmission and reception at the same data rate. Alternatively, the control lines 340 and 370 can be implemented by two separate control lines, allowing different data rates for data transmission and reception. In one implementation of the control lines 340 and 370, the control lines simply send a “mode” signal, informing the optical transceiver the desired data rate to be set. Once the mode signal is received, the optical transceiver is programmed to automatically set the operation parameters to a set of pre-determined values such that the proper data rate can be achieved. The “mode” signals can be prepared and stored in one of the following forms:
1. a programmable logic such as CPLD or FPGA
2. a memory device, such as EEPROM
3. a micro-controller (with build built in memory to store software instruction)
In another implementation of the control lines 340 and 370, the controls are achieved through an “in-band” hand-shaking from the optical interface. The operation mode of the optical transceiver is determined through this hand shake optical interface, by an intelligent data processing unit so that the optical transceiver can be set at the proper data rate through the “remote” provisioning by the link party at the far side.
When there is a change in data rate at the electrical transmission signal 430 440, the data rate of the optical transmission output signal 470 can be changed by a user command line 450. Through the user command line 450, a control signal is sent to micro-controller 413, which controls the driver 412 which in turn produces the bias voltage and driving current for electrical to optical converter 411. Different bias voltages and driving currents cause the electrical to optical converter 411 to produce different output power for the optical transmission signal 470.
The output power of the optical output signal 470 can be further regulated by setting different values to an EEPROM POT in the control feedback loop . . . by the optical feedback signal through the feedback control line 490, which is generated by monitoring photo diode 417. The monitoring photo diode 417 receives and monitors the strength of a monitoring optical signal 421 from the electrical to optical converter 411. Based on the strength of the monitoring optical signal 421, the monitoring photo-diode 417 produces the feedback control signal on the feedback control line 490. The feedback signal reduces or increases the bias voltage or driving current of block 412, which results in a reduction or increase in the output power of the optical transmission signal 470.
In the reception path, the optical transceiver 400 receives an optical reception signal 460, and the optical reception signal 460 is converted to a reception electrical signal at optical-to-electrical converter 414. The converted electrical reception signal is amplified by Trans-Impedance Amplifier (TIA) 415, followed by a limiting amplifier 416. The amplification can be modified by TIA bandwidth controller 418.
When there is a change in the data rate in the optical reception signal 460, the optical reception signal 460 is modified to fit the reception data rate by adjusting controller user command input 480 to the bandwidth controller. Based on the user command input 480, the bandwidth of Trans-Impedance amplifier 415 can be modified. Different bandwidths at the TIA 415 can result in different sensitivities to the electrical signal in the optical-to-electrical converter 414. Thus the optical transceiver 400 can be adjusted to receive data at different data rates.
The PMA 419 and PCS 420 are electric circuits that enable in the compatibility with the Ethernet standards such as the Media Independent Interface (MII) standard or the Gigabit Media Independent Interface (GMII). With the configuration in
In another embodiment, the optical transceiver's transmission and reception data rates can be detected and the optical transceiver's operation mode can be set automatically based on the detected transmit and reception data rates.
On the optical interface, the optical transmission signal 570 is the output from the electrical-to-optical converter 511. The optical reception signal 560 enters the optical-to-electrical converter 514. The major control of the output power of optical transmission signal 570 is from control input 550, and a fine tune control signal 590 comes from monitoring photo-diode 517. The control of the input sensitivity of optical reception signal 560 is through bandwidth controller 518, which is controlled by control signal 581. Unlike ptical optical transceiver 400, whose data rate is entirely controlled by user command lines, optical transceiver 500 can detect the data rates at the electrical transmission signal 540 and the reception optical signal 560.
In the transmission direction, the transmission data rate detector 521 detects the electrical transmission signal 540 and measures the transmission signal data rate. One possible implementation of the data rate detector 521 can comprise a clock recovery circuit and a counter. The counter of clock cycles is an indication of the data rate. Based on the measured transmission signal data rate, the transmission data rate detector 521 generates a Micro-controller data rate set up input signal 550 and sends this control signal to micro-controller 513.
In the data-reception path, the reception data rate detector 580 receives the electrical reception signal from output of the optical-to-electrical converter 514 and measures the data rate of this signal. Based on the measured data rate of the input optical data, the reception data rate detector 580 generates a bandwidth controller set up input 581, and sends this control signal to bandwidth controller 518. With the detection of the transmission and reception data rates, the data rates of the optical transceiver 500 can be automatically set by the data rate detectors 521 and 580, thus the user command lines can be eliminated.
The disclosed system includes the following advantages over the conventional single-data-rate optical transceiver: (1) A multi-rate optical transceiver makes it possible to a network to operate at different data rates or for networks or computer devices operating at different data rates to communicate with each other. (2) A multi-rate optical transceiver makes it more convenient to upgrade a network from one data rate to a higher data rate. No unplugging and plugging of optical transceivers on a network is needed during a data rate upgrade. (3) A multi-rate optical transceiver is more cost efficient. The multi-rate optical transceiver can operate on multiple data rates, while several conventional single-data-rate optical transceivers are required to operate at different data rates.
Wei, Bin, Tian, Jiang, Huang, Yuanjun, Yu, Rangchen, He, Mingshou
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