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Compact fibre optic module to compensate the dispersion occurring in the signal communication links

Country of Origin: Spain
Reference Number: TOES20170405002
Publication Date: 5 April 2017

Summary

Researchers from a Spanish public university have developed a fibre optic module to compensate the dispersion occurring in the signal communication links. The compensation module can be installed at the end of the line or at intermediate points. The device is able to compensate dispersion and slope of dispersion, in a very compact design. Researchers are seeking industrial partners in the communication or construction sectors to reach license agreements or technical cooperation agreements.

Description

In a communication link, the signal undergoes a positive dispersion that needs to be compensated. Usually compensation is made at the end of the line and not at the intermediate points.

Researchers from a Spanish university have developed a new device. The invention consists of a compact optical fibre module capable of compensating for the positive dispersion occurring in the signal communication links. In this case, not only would this dispersion be compensated at the end of the line but also at the intermediate points. The reduced line length makes it possible for the compensator to be integrated into a compact device, taking up less volume. The invention describes a compact fibre module which compensates for dispersion and which can be connected at both intermediate points and at the end of the communication link. The module applies negative dispersion, which compensates for both dispersion and slope of dispersion.

The module consists of a multicore fibre with C cores of length L. At each end of the fibre a TMC (Tapered Multicore Connector) or photonic torch is used. Thanks to the return connections between one core and the next, the plurality of C cores runs in a sequence so that the signal goes through sequentially over the entire length L of each of the C cores. When the cores of the fibre are interconnected, there is an input core for the signal and one for the output, thus compensating for the dispersion equivalent to a CL length.

The compensating module has a much shorter line length when using the solution suggested, thus it is possible that the compensator appears integrated in a compact device with a specific section where the line segment is located, now much shorter and taking up less volume.

The main innovative aspects offered by the technology described above are to ability to simultaneously compensate the effects of dispersion and slope of dispersion. Besides, this technology offers reduction of dispersion and bending losses, decreases losses of MCF-DCF (Monolithic / Discrete Crystal Filters) module and minimizes crosstalk, even for long distance lines. At the same time, the invention presents a very compact design.

The potential application of the invention is for dispersion compensation that is required in optical communication systems using broadband DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) schemes, including terrestrial and submarine links. In addition, it can be applied for construction of compact pulse compressor for both test and measurement instrumentation too.

The simulation of the invention has been conducted at laboratory level and work on a prototype is currently underway.

The inventors are interested in establishing patent license agreements with communication companies for the manufacture and/or installation of the developed compensation module. In addition, technical cooperation agreements with companies from communication sector or construction industries are also welcome to go on with further developments of the technology.
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Advantages and Innovations

The main advantages of the technology:
- Ability to simultaneously compensate the effects of dispersion and slope of dispersion.

- Reduces dispersion and bending losses.

- Decreases losses of MCF-DCF (Monolithic / Discrete Crystal Filters) module.

- Minimises crosstalk, even for long distance lines.

- Very compact design

The main benefits:
The compensating module will have a much shorter line length using the solution proposed in this invention. For this reason, it will be possible for the compensator to be integrated into a card with a section where the line segment will be located, which will now be much shorter and will occupy a smaller volume.

Stage Of Development

Prototype available for demonstration

Requested partner

- Type of partner sought: companies
- Specific area of activity of the partner: communication and construction sector
- Task to be performed: establishing licensing agreement for usage and/or manufacturing of the patented device or reach technical cooperation agreements for joint further developments of the invention.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests