Optical access network using a self-latching variable splitter remotely powered through an optical fiber link

Abstract

We present a 1:2 variable optical splitter ͑VOS͒ with a selflatching property. This new generation of optical coupler presents two coupling ratio states ͑50%-50% and 100%-0%͒ and is based on magneto-optical technology. Fabricated VOS has an intrinsic loss of about 1 dB with a polarization-dependent loss ͑PDL͒ less than 0.1 dB. The flatness of the optical characteristics has also been measured in the C + L band at various temperatures. The active optical component needs an electrical pulse ͑with =1 ms͒ of around 2 V and 60 mA to be activated. Various passive optical network ͑PON͒ architectures using active 1:2 VOSs with self latching are investigated here. These components are cascaded to make a splitter with a tunable number of branches. The use of this splitter allows the achievement of adaptive, flexible, and scalable optical network architectures. The devices can be implemented in the central office ͑CO͒ or in the middle of the network. Last, we propose a remote powering and/or monitoring technology using a fiber-optic link in order to activate the dynamic optical power splitter. The key element of this technology is a pigtailed power converter module. The powering system avoids use of a local power supply via a power line and/or battery, maintains the passive and reliable properties of the network, and significantly limits its cost.

Efficient switch architectures for pre-configured backup protection with sharing in elastic optical networks

“…We use the 1x2 VOS component presented in [15][16][17]. The self-latching VOS is based on magneto-optical technology.…”

“…Average insertion loss (IL) is 0.6dB (for (0%-100%) and (100%-0%) states) and 4dB (for (50%-50%) states), and polarizationdependent loss (PDL) is less than 0.1dB. The VOS energy consumption is very low (~120µJ) [16]. The high speed VOSs available in [18] can also be used in our architecture.…”

Optical layer monitoring in Passive Optical Networks (PONs): A review

“…When the branching devices are in the outside plant, the problem of controlling and powering the optical selectors should be solved [12]. Recently, dynamic splitters which are remotely controlled through the optical fiber link have been reported, that might facilitate the by-pass of the splitter [13]. WDMs or wavelength insensitive couplers (WINC) could be used to introduce the monitoring signal into a fiber line.…”

Fiber Monitoring Technique With Sub-Carrier Baseband Tone Sweep

“…One simple solution suggests using the OTDR monitoring signal bypassing the optical splitter with different aproaches to achieve this outcome described in [68]. Generally, this solution is implemented by means of an active device [69,70] or by some passive solution such as using a wavelength multiplexer/de-multiplexer as was suggested in [71,72].…”