Abstract:
An optical network has an optical bus interconnecting a plurality of sources with a plurality of loads. Each source has a tunable laser for transmitting signals at a selective wavelength and each load has a tunable filter for receiving signals at a selective wavelength. As a result, through a single connection per node and a single bus, each source can exchange signals with any load. The optical network employs a passive optical interface device for routing signals between a node and a bus. The optical interface device provides balanced amplification of the optical signals throughout the network. The optical network is able to distribute RF and other analog signals to multiple nodes while preserving signal quality.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference, co-pending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/414,747, filed on Sep. 27, 2002, entitled “Optical Distribution Network for RF and Other Analog Signals.” 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to an optical distribution network and, more particularly, to an optical network for distributing RF and other analog signals.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Many networks are designed to carry analog signals. One common type of analog signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal. For example, mobile radio telephone networks operate in the RF bandwidth and these signals are transmitted and received from cellular towers. The RF signals travel down the tower to a base station where they are processed before being sent to a mobile switching center (MSC). Another example of an analog distribution network is a coaxial cable distribution network for television signals.  
           [0004]    There are many challenges associated with distributing RF and other analog signals. For example, when directing signals to multiple loads, a splitter is typically used to direct the signals to these multiple loads. In splitting the signal, however, careful attention must be paid to avoid any impedance mismatch between the lines. An impedance mismatch causes reflections in the signal which travel back up the line and which may cause interference with the transmission equipment. Splitting the line may also result in distortion in the phase of the signals which may result in the loss of data in phase modulated signals. The coaxial lines themselves introduce losses and these losses are magnified by the use of splitters. In addition, noise can be induced upon the coaxial lines signals from electromagnetic fields generated by neighboring sources, resulting in additional signal loss. As is apparent from the description above, an RF distribution network must be carefully designed and must consider impedance mismatches, phase matching, losses, and reflections.  
           [0005]    Additional challenges are introduced in the design of an RF distribution network when the network contains multiple sources and multiple loads. For example, a single source that is delivered to ten loads requires at least ten cables to deliver the signals to each load as well as a number of splitters. As described above, each split in the line must take into consideration impedance mismatching, phase matching, reflections, and signal losses. If this network is changed so that it now has ten sources, each of which provides its signals to ten loads, then the complexity of the network is increased by an order of magnitude. Instead of at least ten cables, the network now requires at least a hundred cables to interconnect each source to each load.  
           [0006]    An optical distribution network solves several of the problems associated with an electrical distribution network. The losses in optical fiber are significantly less than those in a coaxial cable. Often, the optical network comprises a wavelength division multiplexed network in which wavelengths are allocated to the various sources. The loads then have wavelength division multiplexers for selecting a desired wavelength and thus a desired source. This type of network is very similar to a point-to-point network topology when the number of loads is equal to the number of sources. This wavelength division multiplexed approach is rather static and cannot easily accommodate changes in the network. For instance, if a load needs the signal from a different source, the wavelength division multiplexer would need to be reconfigured to provide the wavelength allocated to that source. Also, it is difficult to add wavelengths, sources, or loads when wavelengths are assigned to the transmitters at the sources and the loads are assigned specific wavelengths.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The invention addresses the problems above by providing systems, networks, and methods for distributing optical signals. The optical networks include an optical medium for carrying optical signals, which preferably comprises an optical fiber but may include other media, such as optical waveguides and over-the-air transmission. The optical network includes an optical interface device for passively routing optical signals to each note within the network. The optical interface device may comprise a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) but preferably comprises an optical tap for diverting a fraction of all the signals to the node. The optical interface device not only diverts signals traveling along both directions of the optical bus to each node but also forwards optical signals originating from a node onto the bus in both directions. The preferred optical interface device also provides balanced amplification of optical signals such that the optical signals entering one port of the optical interface device exit all other ports of the optical interface device at the same signal level. Additional details of the optical interface device may be found in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 60/414,746 entitled “Optical Interface Device Having Balanced Amplification,” filed on Sep. 27, 2002, and later filed non-provisional patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Optical Interface Device Having Balanced Amplification.” 
           [0008]    The optical network according to a preferred embodiment of the invention can be dynamically reconfigured. According to one aspect, the sources have tunable lasers whereby each source can alter a wavelength of transmission. According to another aspect, the loads have tunable filters so that each load can selectively receive signals from any source. According to yet a further aspect, the sources have transmitters that can tune to different wavelengths and the sources have filters that can select from any wavelength. As a result, any load can receive signals from any source and, vice versa, and any source can transmit signals to any load.  
           [0009]    The optical network preferably has some capability of transmitting control signals between the sources and the loads. These control signals may be transmitted as part of the overhead in the signals exchanged between the sources and the loads or the control signals may be sent along a dedicated channel established between the sources and the load. With this dedicated channel, each load can receive the control signals assigned to one wavelength of light as well as signals from the sources that are assigned to at least one other wavelength of light.  
           [0010]    The optical networks according to the invention are well suited for the distribution of analog and other RF signals. By their very nature, analog signals convey information through the waveform of the signals. For instance, for amplitude modulation, the magnitude of the signal is used to convey information. In a similar manner, the frequency, phase, or polarization of an analog signal can be modulated to convey information. Thus, in distributing analog signals, the analog signal that is transmitted at a source should be a precise duplicate in every manner of the signal that is detected at any of the loads. The optical networks according to the invention, in part due to the balanced amplification within the optical interface devices, allow for an efficient and practical solution to distributing analog signals.  
           [0011]    Conventional approaches to distributing RF signals involve the use of a line between each source and each load. Thus, for one source to transmit signals to each of ten loads, the network would require ten lines. This approach suffers from a disadvantage of requiring an increasing number of lines for each additional load or source. The optical networks according to the invention, on the other hand, may operate with as little as one optical bus which carries signals from all sources to all loads. The optical networks according to the invention, therefore, drastically reduce the number of lines required and eliminate any need for complicated switching between sources and loads.  
           [0012]    The optical networks may be used in practically any environment. For example, the optical networks are well adapted for use in a wireless network which requires the transmission of RF or other analog signals. For instance, optical networks may carry signals between the antennas on a tower and the base station or a central processing station. In addition, optical networks may carry signals between a base station and one or more central processing stations, a base station to one or more base stations, and a central processing station and one or more central processing stations. As another example, optical networks may be used in the distribution of television signals from a broadcasting source or head-end unit to multiple receivers, each of which can selectively tune in a desired channel. Other examples are provided in the description below and will become apparent to those skilled in the art.  
           [0013]    Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the description below, and from the accompanying papers forming this application. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional approach to interconnecting a number of nodes within a network;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an optical network according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a difference in the number of connections required versus the number of users between the network of FIG. 1 and the optical network of FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a more detailed network diagram illustrating a conventional networking approach;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a more detailed network diagram illustrating an optical network according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a more detailed diagram of an optical interface device illustrated in FIG. 5;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is another exemplary diagram of an optical network according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is still a further exemplary diagram of an optical network according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is yet another example of an optical network according to an embodiment of the invention incorporating control for signal level. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    I. Overview  
         [0025]    As mentioned above, one challenge in a network is in providing signals from a number of sources to a number of loads. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 1 with ten users. In this example, each user needs to transmit to each of the other nine users as well as to receive signals from each of the other nine users. The arrows between the users represent the transmission of signals between each pair of users. As is apparent from the figure, the number of channels required to accommodate all of these transmissions becomes quite large, even for the small number of 10 users in this example. One approach to carrying all these channels is to employ a line interconnecting each source to each load. As explained in the Background, this approach would require 90 lines for 10 sources and 10 loads. Another approach is to provide a switch, which in this example would be a 10×9 switch, which would then provide the necessary connections between sources and loads.  
         [0026]    With some types of signals, either of the solutions outlined above may be practical in terms of cost and performance. For high frequency signals and analog signals, such as radio frequency (RF) signals, both of these approaches are often impractical. For one, a network would become unnecessary complex to properly manage reflections, impedance matching, phase matching, and losses. A switch approach would reduce the number of lines required, but at a significant cost. Even a small switch, such as a 3×3 switch, has an exorbitant cost that can be justified in only rare situations.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 illustrates the simplicity associated with optical networks according to the invention. As illustrated in this figure, instead of multiple lines interconnecting each user with every other user, each user is connected to a common bus through an optical interface device (OID). The OID, also referred to as an optical bus interface module (OBIM), in general directs signals originating from a user onto the bus in both directions and routes signals traveling along the bus in either direction to each user. The OBIM is a passive device in that it does not convert the optical signals into electrical signals nor does it transform optical signals into other optical signals like add-drop during the routing process. The preferred OBIM is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/414,746 entitled “Optical Interface Device Having Balanced Amplification,” filed on Sep. 27, 2002, and later filed non-provisional patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Optical Interface Device Having Balanced Amplification,” both of which are incorporated by reference. Additional details of the OBIM may be found in the co-pending patent application as well as in the description associated with FIG. 6.  
         [0028]    The benefits of optical networks according to the invention are highlighted in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates the number of connections required based on the number of users within a network. The plot with an increasing slope is for a conventional approach wherein the number of connections is equal to the product of n*(n−1). In contrast, the number of required connections using OBIMs with optical networks according to the invention is equal to n. As one example, with 20 users, an optical network according to the invention would require 20 connections whereas the conventional approach outlined above would require 380 connections. The optical networks according to the invention therefore greatly simplify the design of optical networks and substantially reduce the cost associated with exchanging signals between multiple sources and loads, while improving performance and enhancing the fidelity of the transmitted signal.  
         [0029]    II. Network Examples  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 illustrates a network  10  that may be provided on aircraft. This network  10  includes a backbone  12 , such as an Ethernet/Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). Off of this backbone  12  are numerous nodes, including a plurality of user work stations  14 . The network in FIG. 4 must address the complexity of either the collisions on an Ethernet bus network or the switches for a switched Ethernet network. The network also includes complexity of two fiber point-to-point connections between FDDI interfaces that perform optical-to-electrical-to-optical conversions to make the FDDI ring functional. The network  10  also includes a navigational system  16  as well as an audio distribution system  18 . Furthermore, the network  10  includes data links  15  and sensor arrays  17 . As noted in the figure, many of these nodes operate with different type of media and with different protocols. For instance, the navigation system  16  transmits Mil Std. 1553 which is translated into 802.3/FDDI through interface  19 . The data links  15  have an RS 232/488 output which passes through an interface  21  while other nodes transmit analog signals. In addition to data signals, the network  10  also distributes control signals for controlling remote processes. For example, the network  10  has a DBMS processor  23 , a correlation/fusion processor  25 , and a direction finding processor  27 . The different types of media, the different protocols, and the different types of signals themselves all render it rather difficult to move data in a distributed fashion throughout the network  10 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred network  30  according to an embodiment of the invention having a plurality of nodes  32  connected to a bus  34  through an optical interface device  36 , which is preferably an OBIM. This network  30  shown in FIG. 5 is able to facilitate the integration of multiple media 802.3, FDDI, RS232, RS432, RS488, Mil Std. 1553, as well as other digital or analog signals. The network  30  also enables the control of remote processes and overall moves data in a bidirectional distributed fashion throughout the network  30  from any node  32  to any other node  32 . The network  30  shown in FIG. 5 greatly simplifies the design of a network  30  and is easily altered by adding or removing nodes  32 . Further advantages of the network will become apparent from the description associated with FIG. 7.  
         [0032]    III. OBIM  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 provides a more detailed diagram of an OBIM  36  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The OBIM  36  may be fabricated with any technology. FIG. 6 provides an example of the OBIM  36  fabricated using discrete components. The OBIM  36  has three ports A, B, and C. A 50/50 coupler  41  is positioned at each port and splits the incoming signal into two equal components that are directed along one of the three legs within the OBIM  36 . Thus, each leg of the OBIM  36  interconnects one of the ports to the other two ports. The 50/50 couplers  41  at each port also combine the signals traveling in the opposite direction along the legs which originate from the two other ports.  
         [0034]    For example, a signal entering port A is divided into two components A 1  and A 2  by the 50/50 coupler  41  with component A 1  traveling to port B and component A 2  traveling to port C. Similarly, a signal B at port B is divided into components B 1  and B 2  by the 50/50 coupler  41  at port B and a signal C at port C is divided into components C 1  and C 2  by the 50/50 coupler  41  at port C. The 50/50 coupler  41  at port A combines the signals B 1  and C 1  and route them so they exit port A. Similarly, the 50/50 coupler  41  at port B combines the signals A 1  and C 2  and route them so they exit port B and the 50/50 coupler  41  at port C combines the signals A 2  and B 2  and route them so they exit port C.  
         [0035]    Each leg provides for bi-directional amplification of the optical signals. The OBIM  36  has fiber amplifiers  50  and, more preferably rare earth doped fiber amplifiers, such as erbium doped fiber amplifiers. The amplifiers  50  preferably amplify the optical signals by 7.8 dB. This amplification compensates for the 6 dB splitting loss resulting from the 50/50 coupler  41  as well as an additional 1.8 dB loss from losses associated with coupling each port of the OBIM  36  to a fiber line. Because the coupling losses associated with the OBIM  36  will vary with the precise couplers used and the optical medium to which the OBIM  36  is coupled, the precise amount of amplification provided by the fiber amplifiers  50  may vary.  
         [0036]    The fiber amplifiers  50  receive an excitation light from a pump P that is divided into three essentially equal components and provided to each leg through a 68/32 coupler  45  and a 50/50 coupler  46 . The excitation light is coupled to each leg of the OBIM  36  through couplers  42 , which are preferably wavelength division multiplexers  42 . The excitation light in this example is at 980 nm while the optical signals have wavelengths of light within the 1550 nm window.  
         [0037]    The OBIM  36  shown in FIG. 6 is just one non-limiting example of how the OBIM  36  may be fabricated. In addition to using discrete components, the OBIM  36  may be fabricated using semiconductor technology, through polymers, ion migration, and other existing or future developed techniques.  
         [0038]    IV. Detailed Network Diagram  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 illustrates a more detailed diagram of a network  60  according to another embodiment of the invention. The network  60  includes a fiber optic bus  62  and a plurality of optical interface devices  64  for routing optical signals between the bus  62  and a plurality of nodes  66 . These nodes  66  are labeled OP 3 , Equipment  3 , Equipment  4 , Equipment  5 , and Equipment  6 . Networks according to the invention may include additional or fewer nodes which are configured in other ways. The optical interface devices  64  are preferably the OBIMs  36  shown in FIG. 6. The network  60  also includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) or electrically tuned filters  68  for selecting desired wavelengths from the optical bus  62 . The OBIMs  64  receive an excitation light from one or more pumps  72  for performing the bidirectional amplification of the signals.  
         [0040]    One feature of the network  60  shown in FIG. 7 is the ability for nodes  66  to selectively receive signals at different wavelengths of light. For instance, the Equipment  5  node  66  comprises units with electrically tuned filters for selecting a desired wavelength of light and an electrical to optical interface card (EOIC)  74  for converting those optical signals into electrical signals. The electrical signals are then provided to terminal equipment  76  for various uses. On the transmission side, the optical signals are transmitted by lasers  78  at different wavelengths of light and inserted onto the bus  62 . These laser  78  may transmit at fixed wavelengths whereby the loads must tune to a desired source. Alternatively, the lasers  78  can tune to a desired wavelength and thus transmit at any one of a plurality of wavelengths. According to this aspect, the sources can adjust its wavelength of transmission to send optical signals to a desired load.  
         [0041]    The optical signals may be directly coupled onto the bus  62  or may be joined with other signals through a WDM  82  and these combined multiplexed signals are then directly coupled onto the bus  62 . An advantage of the network  60  shown in FIG. 7 is that a load may receive signals from any source by selectively tuning a filter  68  to the corresponding wavelength. With tunable lasers, the converse is also true in that each source can adjust its wavelength so that it transmits to a desired load. FIG. 8 illustrates another example of a network  90  according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 9 is yet another example of an optical network  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The optical network  100  shown in FIG. 9 differs from other embodiments in that it is able to better monitor and control the power level of optical signals. Sources  102  in this example transmit a reference signal having a known signal level to loads  104 . The loads  104  detect the reference signal and compare the power level to a predetermined reference level. Based on any difference between the power levels, the load  104  is able to adjust detected communication signals accordingly.  
         [0043]    With reference to FIG. 9, the reference signal is transmitted and detected by each of the loads ( 1 U)  104 . At the load  104 , a coupler  111  directs a portion of the signal to a filter/isolator  113  which isolates the reference signal. A wavelength and power level controller  115  then detects the power level and compares the level to the reference level. Based on any discrepancy, the wavelength and power level adjuster  115  controls an RF Power Adjust unit  117  so that detected signals are at the proper level. The optical signals are directed from the coupler  111  to an isolator  86 , to the tunable filter  68 , and then to an EOIC light to RF unit  88  which converts the optical signals into electrical signals.  
         [0044]    The wavelength and power level controller  115  can also function to adjust the tunable filter to a desired wavelength. In addition to receiving the reference signal, the wavelength and power level controller  115  can also receive a control signal from which the wavelength and power level controller  115  can determine the desired wavelength. For instance, a source  102  seeking to transmit signals to one of the loads  104  inserts a command onto the control signal and this control signal is received at the desired load  104 . The control signal specifies what wavelength the load  104  should select in order to receive optical signals from that source  102 . In addition to sending control signals from loads to sources, the optical networks according to the invention may be bi-directional in that control signals and other communications may be sent from the loads to the sources. With this bi-directional exchanges of control signals, the loads  104  may request that the sources  102  transmit optical signals at a particular wavelength. Other uses of control signals will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
         [0045]    V. Environments  
         [0046]    The optical networks according to the invention may be used in a variety of different environments. For instance, the optical networks may be used in distributing signals from a wireless network. A mobile radiotelephone tower may receive RF signals from mobile devices and the networks convert those signals directly into optical signals which are then routed through an optical bus to a base station and/or central processing station. Thus, rather than having a base station associated with each tower, a central processing station may receive signals directly from multiple towers and perform processing in a coordinated fashion. The wireless signals need not be downconverted but can be converted directly into RF signals and these analog RF optical signals then distributed throughout the network. The OBIM shown in FIG. 6 greatly assists in distributing these analog signals by maintaining signal quality.  
         [0047]    As another example, optical networks may be used in distributing signals for display by a television. These signals may be received by a cable head end and/or a satellite receiver. The signals may be transmitted in a digital or analog format. As with the example given above, the OBIMs shown in FIG. 6 enable the distribution of analog TV signals without incurring significant deterioration in signal levels or quality. The subscribers to the service may have receivers which selectively tune to any wavelength, and thus to any channel.  
         [0048]    As another example, the optical networks may be used in In-Flight Entertainment, such as on commercial aircraft. The IFE example and cable distribution example enable the capability of video-on-demand. Through the ability to transmit at any wavelength and also receive signals at any wavelength, the loads can coordinate with the sources so that the desired programming is delivered to that load.  
         [0049]    As mentioned above with all examples, the optical networks can operate according to different protocols and media. The optical network may also operate according to an encapsulation method described in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/924,037, entitled “Physical Layer Transparent Transport Information Encapsulation Methods and Systems,” filed on Aug. 7, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0050]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.  
         [0051]    The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.