Embedded parametric monitoring of optoelectronic modules
An optoelectronic module for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber including a housing having an electrical input for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting and receiving information-containing electrical signals over such input, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and receiving an optical signal; an electro-optic subassembly coupled to the information containing electrical signal and converting it to and/or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal; and parametric storage means disposed in said housing for storing environmental and/or operational data associated with the module.
1 . An optical transmitter for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber comprising:
a housing including an electrical input for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting information-containing electrical signals over said input, and a fiber optical connector adapted for coupling with an external optic fiber for transmitting an optical signal;
an electro-optic subassembly disposed in said housing coupled to the information containing electrical signal and converting it to a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal at a predetermined wavelength; and
parametric storage means disposed in said housing for storing operational data associated with the transmitter.
2 . The optical transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising means in the housing for recording and storing the total operating time of the optical transmitter.
3 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a temperature of the housing.
4 . The optical transmitter of claim 3 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a time rate of change of the temperature of the housing.
5 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a temperature of a laser or light emitting diode within the housing.
6 . The optical transmitter of claim 5 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a time rate of change of the temperature of the laser or light emitting diode.
7 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a laser bias current and/or a digital setting that controls the bias current.
8 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a laser modulation current and/or a digital setting that controls the modulation current.
9 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a light emitting diode drive current and/or a digital setting that controls the drive current.
10 . The optical transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing indications of bit errors on incoming electrical signals that simulate an optical transmission function.
11 . An optical receiver for converting and coupling an optical signal from an optical fiber to an information-containing electrical signal comprising:
a housing including an optical input for coupling with an external fiber optic cable and information system device and for transmitting information-containing optical signals received over said input, and an electrical connector adapted for coupling with an external electrical cable for transmitting an electrical signal;
an electro-optic subassembly disposed in said housing coupled to the information containing optical signal and converting it to an electrical signal; and
parametric storage means disposed in said housing for storing operational data associated with receiver.
12 . The optical receiver of claim 11 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing the total operating time of the optical receiver.
13 . The optical receiver of claim 12 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing bit errors detected on the external fiber optic cable.
14 . The optical receiver of claim 12 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a power level of optical signals detected on the external fiber optic cable.
15 . An optical transceiver for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber comprising:
a housing including an electrical input for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting and receiving information-containing electrical signals over said input, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and receiving an optical signal;
an electro-optic subassembly disposed in said housing coupled to the information containing electrical signal and converting it to or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal; and
parametric storage means disposed in said housing for storing operational data associated with the transceiver.
16 . The optical transceiver of claim 15 , further comprising means in the housing for recording and storing the total operating time of the optical transceiver.
17 . The optical transceiver of claim 16 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing the temperature of the housing at periodic intervals.
18 . The optical transmitter of claim 16 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing the time rate of change of the temperature of the housing when the rate of change exceeds a predetermined threshold.
19 . The optical transmitter of claim 16 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a temperature of the light source within the housing.
20 . The optical transmitter of claim 19 , further comprising means within the housing for recording and storing a time rate of change of the temperature of the laser or light emitting diode within the housing.