Optical transceiver with variable data rate and sensitivity control
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsJohn Featherston, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
Claims20
An optical communications method comprising:
- detecting, by a processor, a current power level of a received optical signal in an optical transceiver;
- determining, by the processor, if the current power level of the received optical signal has changed from a previous power level;
- adjusting, by the processor, a data rate for the optical transceiver to a new data rate based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level, wherein the new data rate is based upon a predetermined power threshold;
- and
- adjusting, by the processor, a sensitivity level of at least one detector and a bit rate of a modem in the optical transceiver based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level.
An optical communications method comprising:
- receiving an optical signal with both a main detector and an auxiliary detector of an optical transceiver;
- detecting, by a processor, a current power level of the optical signal as received by the auxiliary detector, and generating an electrical output signal representing the power level;
- determining, by the processor, if the current power level of the received optical signal has changed from a previous power level of the optical signal as received by the auxiliary detector;
- adjusting, by the processor, a data rate for the optical transceiver based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level;
- and
- adjusting, by the processor, a sensitivity level of the main detector and a bit rate of a modem in the optical transceiver based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level.
An optical communications method comprising:
- detecting, by an adaptive data rate processor, a current power level of a received optical signal in an optical transceiver;
- determining, by the adaptive data rate processor, if the current power level of the received optical signal has changed from a previous power level;
- dynamically adjusting, by the adaptive data rate processor, a data rate for the optical transceiver based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level, and further based on a system mode;
- and
- adjusting, by the adaptive data rate processor, a sensitivity level of at least one detector and a bit rate of a modem in the optical transceiver based on the current power level of the received optical signal having changed from the previous power level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.