Method and optical network component for signal processing in an optical network and communication system
View Patent ↗A method and an optical network component for data processing in an optical network. A first signal and a second signal are influenced by a tunable element. The first signal is an incoming optical signal, and the second signal is a local oscillator signal generated by a laser. The laser has an optical gain element that is tuned by the tunable element. A communication system is provided with the optical network component.
1. A method of signal processing in an optical network, which comprises the following steps:
receiving a first optical signal in the form of a data signal by a tunable filter;
providing a selected first optical signal having a required wavelength;
providing an allocated second optical signal as a local oscillator signal generated by a laser;
determining a wavelength of the second optical signal by the tunable filter as a component of the laser and directly adjusting said laser; and
tuning said selected first optical signal and tuning said second optical signal simultaneously by setting said tunable filter.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selected first optical signal is reflected by the tunable filter and the second optical signal is reflected by the tunable filter as a component of the laser.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selected first optical signal is passing the tunable filter and the second optical signal is passing the tunable filter being a component of the laser.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the tunable element is a dielectric filter.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the tunable element is a dielectric filter.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the tunable filter is an angle-tunable filter.
7. The method according to claim 2 , which comprises conveying the first optical signal and the second optical signal via waveguides, wherein the waveguides are offset to each other.
8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said tunable filter comprises a mechanical and/or an electrical coupling for tuning the selected first optical signal and the second optical signal.
9. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said tunable filter comprises a mechanical and/or an electrical coupling for tuning the selected first optical signal and the second optical signal.
10. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises combining the selected first optical signal with the second optical signal for coherent demodulation.
11. The method according to claim 1 , which comprises carrying out the method steps in an optical network element.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein
the optical network element is at least one of an optical network unit and an optical line terminal.
13. An optical network component, comprising:
a tunable filter receiving a first optical signal in the form of a data signal and providing a selected first optical signal having a required wavelength;
an adjustable laser providing an allocated second optical signal as a local oscillator signal;
the laser comprising a gain element and also said tunable filter as a laser component determining a wavelength of the second optical signal; and
the tunable filter being configured for tuning simultaneously said selected first optical signal and said second optical signal.
14. The optical network component according to claim 13 , wherein said tunable filter is configured to tune simultaneously the selected first optical and the second optical signal via mechanical and/or electrical coupling.
15. The optical network component according to claim 13 , wherein
the tunable filter is reflecting the selected first optical signal and
is a component of the laser reflecting the second optical signal.
16. The optical network component according to claim 13 , wherein
the tunable filter lets the selected first optical signal pass and
as a component of the laser lets the second optical signal pass.
17. The optical network component according to claim 14 , wherein said tunable filter is an angle-tunable dielectric filter.
18. The optical network component according to claim 15 , wherein said tunable filter is an angle-tunable dielectric filter.
19. The optical network component according to claim 16 , wherein said tunable filter is an angle-tunable dielectric filter.
20. The optical network component according to claim 13 , configured as a component of an optical network unit or as an optical line terminal.
21. A communication system, comprising the optical network component according claim 13 .