Flexible Grid TWDM-PON Architecture and Intelligent Set-Up for TWDM-PON

摘要

An approach to proving a flexible grid architecture for time and wavelength division multiplexed passive optical networks is described. One embodiment includes an optical transmitter array configured to transmit an optical signal, an optical combiner coupled to the optical transmitter array configured to receive unlocked wavelengths from the optical transmitter array and output a single optical signal, and an optical amplifier coupled to the optical combiner configured to boost downstream optical power. In some embodiments, a WDM filter is coupled to the optical amplifier, and a tunable optical network unit (ONU) coupled to the WDM filter is configured to transmit and receive the optical signals. In still other embodiments, a cyclic demultiplexer is coupled to the optical splitter and connects to an optical receiver array configured to receive optical signals.

主权项

1. An apparatus for performing time- and wavelength-division multiplexing (TWDM), the apparatus comprising:
an optical transmitter array configured to transmit an optical signal and comprising:
a first optical transmitter, anda second optical transmitter; an optical combiner coupled to the optical transmitter array and configured to:
receive the optical signal from the optical transmitter array, andoutput a multi-wavelength optical signal; and an optical amplifier coupled to the optical combiner and configured to boost downstream optical power, wherein the optical combiner is further configured to receive a first optical signal having a first wavelength and a second optical signal having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and wherein an output of the first optical transmitter and an output of the second optical transmitter comprise intermediate grid wavelength values.