System for achieving multiple bits per symbol in optical communications systems by combining spatial domain multiplexing and pulse amplitude modulation

A multi-level PAM-X communication system, where X is the number of PAM levels, comprising:

• a first channel PAM-X optical combiner, comprising:
• a first serial to parallel convertor comprising an input port for receiving a first input serial data stream of binary data, said serial to parallel convertor converting said serial stream of binary data into n parallel binary serial data streams, numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• a first plurality of x optical sources for converting serial binary electrical data to binary serial optical data, each of said optical sources producing an optical signal output;
• and wherein:
• x
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 2
• n
• -
• 1
• each optical source comprising an input port;
• wherein said n parallel binary serial data streams are each in communication with w of said x optical sources according to the relation, beginning from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit:
• w
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 0
• n
• -
• 1
• 
• 2
• n
• wherein each of said optical sources is optically coupled to an input end of a first optical carrier fiber;
• wherein each of said optical sources may be placed in an OFF state or an ON state corresponding to a zero or one binary character of the parallel binary serial data stream that is input to the optical source;
• wherein each of said optical source output signals is incoherently combined into a first combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol when said optical source output signals are coupled into said first optical carrier fiber, said first optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said first combined PAM-X optical signal to an output end of said first optical carrier fiber;
• and
• a second channel PAM-X optical combiner, comprising:
• a second serial to parallel convertor comprising an input port for receiving a second input serial data stream of binary data, said serial to parallel convertor converting said second serial stream of binary data into n parallel binary serial data streams, numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• a second plurality of x optical sources for converting the serial binary electrical data to binary serial optical data, each of said optical sources producing an optical signal output;
• and wherein:
• x
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 2
• n
• -
• 1
• each optical source comprising an input port;
• wherein said n parallel binary serial data streams are each in communication with w of said x optical sources according to the relation, beginning from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit:
• w
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 0
• n
• -
• 1
• 
• 2
• n
• wherein each of said optical sources may be placed in an OFF state or an ON state corresponding to a zero or one binary character of the parallel binary serial data stream that is input to the optical source;
• wherein each of said optical sources is optically coupled to an input end of a second optical carrier fiber;
• wherein each of said optical source output signals is incoherently combined into a second combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol when said optical source output signals are coupled into said optical carrier fiber, said second optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said second combined PAM-X optical signal to an output end of said second optical carrier fiber;
• wherein said first and second optical carrier fibers are in optical communication with an SDM multiplexer coupled to an SDM carrier fiber such that said first combined PAM-X optical signal is launched into said SDM carrier fiber in a first unique SDM channel, and wherein said second combined PAM-X optical signal is launched into an SDM carrier fiber in a second unique SDM channel;
• an SDM de-multiplexer in optical communication with an output end of said SDM carrier fiber, said SDM de-multiplexer producing a first output comprising an electrical signal corresponding to said first combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol;
• and said SDM de-multiplexer producing as a second output an electrical signal corresponding to said second combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol;
• a first PAM de-multiplexer in communication with said first output of said SDM de-multiplexer, converting said electrical signal corresponding to said first combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol to a first serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream and producing said first serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream at its output;
• a first serializer in communication with said first PAM de-multiplexer, receiving said first serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream and converting said first serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream to a first output serial data stream replicating said first input serial data stream of binary data;
• a second PAM de-multiplexer in communication with second first output of said SDM de-multiplexer, converting said electrical signal corresponding to said second combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol to a second serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream and producing said second serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream at its output;
• a second serializer in communication with said first PAM de-multiplexer, receiving said second serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream and converting said second serialized n-bit wide parallel data stream to a second output serial data stream replicating said second input serial data stream of binary data.

A multi-level PAM-X/WDM communication system, where X is the number of PAM levels per wavelength, comprising:

• a plurality of serial to parallel convertors each comprising an input port for receiving an input serial data stream of binary data, said serial to parallel convertors converting said input serial stream of binary data into n parallel binary serial output data streams, numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• a plurality of multichannel wavelength division multiplexers that each outputs a WDM combined output optical signal that comprises optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength;
• each wavelength division multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, one input for each WDM wavelength, each of said inputs receiving one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength corresponds to one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs is optically coupled to an input end of an optical carrier fiber;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs are incoherently combined into a combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength when said WDM outputs are coupled into said optical carrier fiber, said optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal to an output end of said optical carrier fiber;
• a WDM de-multiplexer having an input port in optical communication with an output end of said optical carrier fiber, converting said combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal to a plurality of electrical signals, one for each WDM wavelength, each electrical signal corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength present in the combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal, and presenting an electrical signal corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength as an electrical output;
• a plurality of PAM-X de-multiplexers, one for each discrete WDM wavelength, each PAM-X de-multiplexer having an input in communication with one of the outputs of said WDM de-multiplexer such that each of said PAM de-multiplexers receives one of the electrical signals corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength that is output from said WDM de-multiplexer, each PAM de-multiplexers converting said its input PAM-X/WDM signal of X bits per symbol to n parallel binary serial data streams;
• and
• a plurality of serializers, wherein said PAM-X de-multiplexer is in communication with a unique serializer, said unique serializer converting said n parallel binary serial data streams to a single serial data stream that is a replica of the serial input data stream.

A multi-level PAM-X/WDM/SDM communication system, where X is the number of PAM levels, comprising:

• a first plurality of serial to parallel convertors each comprising an input port for receiving an input serial data stream of binary data, said serial to parallel convertors converting said input serial stream of binary data into n parallel binary serial output data streams, numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• a first plurality of multichannel wavelength division multiplexers that each outputs a WDM combined output optical signal that comprises optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength;
• each wavelength division multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, one input for each WDM wavelength, each of said inputs receiving one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength corresponds to one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs is optically coupled to an input end of a first optical carrier fiber;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs are incoherently combined into a first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength when said WDM outputs are coupled into said first optical carrier fiber, said first optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal to an output end of said first optical carrier fiber;
• a second plurality of serial to parallel convertors each comprising an input port for receiving an input serial data stream of binary data, said serial to parallel convertors converting said input serial stream of binary data into n parallel binary serial output data streams, numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• a second plurality of multichannel wavelength division multiplexers that each outputs a WDM combined output optical signal that comprises optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength;
• each wavelength division multiplexer having a plurality of inputs, one input for each WDM wavelength, each of said inputs receiving one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said optical signals at each discrete WDM wavelength corresponds to one of said n parallel binary serial output data streams from one of said serial to parallel convertors;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs is optically coupled to an input end of a second optical carrier fiber;
• wherein each of said WDM outputs are incoherently combined into a second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength when said WDM outputs are coupled into said second optical carrier fiber, said second optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal to an output end of said second optical carrier fiber;
• wherein said first and second optical carrier fibers are in optical communication with an SDM multiplexer coupled to an SDM carrier fiber such that said first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength is launched into said SDM carrier fiber in a first unique SDM channel, and wherein said second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength is launched into said SDM carrier fiber in a second unique SDM channel;
• an SDM de-multiplexer in optical communication with an output end of said SDM carrier fiber, said SDM de-multiplexer producing a first output comprising an electrical signal corresponding to said first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength;
• and said SDM de-multiplexer producing as a second output an optical signal corresponding to said second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength;
• a first WDM de-multiplexer having an input port in optical communication with said first output of said SDM de-multiplexer, converting said first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength to a plurality of electrical signals, one for each WDM wavelength, each electrical signal corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength present in the first combined PAM-X/WDM per discrete WDM wavelength, and presenting an electrical signal corresponding to the first combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength as an electrical output;
• a second WDM de-multiplexer having an input port in optical communication with said second output of said SDM de-multiplexer, converting said second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength to a plurality of electrical signals, one for each WDM wavelength, each electrical signal corresponding to the second PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength present in the SDM carrier fiber, and presenting an electrical signal corresponding to the second combined PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength as an electrical output;
• a first plurality of PAM-X de-multiplexers in communication with said first WDM de-multiplexer, one for each discrete WDM wavelength, each PAM-X de-multiplexer having an input in communication with one of the outputs of said first WDM de-multiplexer such that each of said PAM-X de-multiplexers receives one of the electrical signals corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength that is output from said WDM de-multiplexer, each PAM de-multiplexers converting said its input PAM-X/WDM signal of X bits per symbol to n parallel binary serial data streams;
• and
• a second plurality of PAM-X de-multiplexers in communication with said second WDM de-multiplexer, one for each discrete WDM wavelength, each PAM-X de-multiplexer having an input in communication with one of the outputs of said second WDM de-multiplexer such that each of said PAM-X de-multiplexers receives one of the electrical signals corresponding to the PAM-X/WDM optical signal of X bits per symbol per discrete WDM wavelength for each WDM wavelength that is output from said WDM de-multiplexer, each PAM de-multiplexers converting said its input PAM-X/WDM signal of X bits per symbol to n parallel binary serial data streams;
• and
• a first plurality of serializers, wherein said first PAM-X de-multiplexer is in communication with a unique serializer, said unique serializer converting said n parallel binary serial data streams to a single serial data stream that is a replica of the serial input data stream;
• and
• a second plurality of serializers, wherein said second PAM-X de-multiplexer is in communication with a unique serializer, said unique serializer converting said n parallel binary serial data streams to a single serial data stream that is a replica of the serial input data stream.

A method for PAM-X modulation of an optical communication system, where X is the number of PAM levels, comprising:

• receiving an input serial binary data stream;
• converting said input serial binary data stream to n independent parallel binary data streams numbered sequentially in order from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit such that the Least Significant Bit is numbered 1 and the Most Significant Bit is numbered n;
• providing a plurality of x optical sources for converting serial binary electrical data to binary serial optical data, each of said optical sources producing an optical signal output;
• and wherein:
• x
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 2
• n
• -
• 1
• and wherein each of said n parallel binary serial data streams are each in communication with w of said x optical sources according to the relation, beginning from Least Significant Bit to Most Significant Bit:
• w
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 0
• n
• -
• 1
• 
• 2
• n
• incoherently combining the outputs of said x optical sources forming a combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol when said optical source output signals are coupled into an optical carrier fiber, said optical carrier fiber supporting propagation of said combined optical signal to an output end of said optical carrier fiber:
• receiving said combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol by an optical detector to recover a combined PAM-X signal of X bits per symbol electrical signal proportional to said combined PAM-X optical signal of X bits per symbol;
• de-multiplexing said combined PAM-X signal of X bits per symbol electrical signal to recover n independent parallel binary data streams;
• and
• serializing said recovered n independent parallel binary data streams to provide a single serial data stream that is a replica of the serial input data stream.