System and method for optical transmission

Abstract

In an example embodiment, an optical system includes an analog laser transmitter having a burst operative mode. The system may include enable logic configured to provide a digital enable signal in response to receiving a trigger signal other than a reverse electrical signal. The system may further include a power controller circuit coupled to the transmitter and enable logic and configured to turn on the analog transmitter when the enable signal is asserted and turn off the analog transmitter when the enable signal is de-asserted. An example method embodiment may include providing an analog signal to the analog laser transmitter and providing a trigger signal to the enable logic to provide a digital enable signal in response to receiving the trigger signal and turning on the analog laser transmitter when the enable signal is asserted, and turning off the analog laser transmitter when the enable signal is de-asserted.

1 . An optical system comprising:
 an analog transmitter configured for burst mode operation;   enable logic configured to provide a digital enable signal in response to receiving a trigger signal;   a power controller circuit coupled to said transmitter and said enable logic, said power controller circuit configured to turn on said analog transmitter when said enable signal is asserted and turn off said analog transmitter when said enable signal is de-asserted; and   wherein said trigger signal comprises other than a reverse electrical signal.   
   
   
       2 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein said enable logic is configured to receive a plurality of parallel trigger signals. 
   
   
       3 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein said power controller circuit is configured to control said transmitter output power generated while said transmitter is turned on. 
   
   
       4 . The optical system of  claim 3 , wherein said power controller uses a monitor current to control said transmitter output power generated while said transmitter is turned on. 
   
   
       5 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein said trigger signal comprises a control signal. 
   
   
       6 . The optical system of  claim 5 , wherein said trigger signal comprises a control signal originating at a cable modem terminating system (CMTS). 
   
   
       7 . The optical system of  claim 5 , wherein said trigger signal comprises a time-division-multiple-access (TDMA) control signal. 
   
   
       8 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein said trigger signal is not a reverse electrical signal. 
   
   
       9 . A method of operating an analog laser transmitter, the method comprising:
 providing an analog input signal to the analog laser transmitter;   providing a trigger signal to enable logic configured to provide a digital enable signal in response to receiving said trigger signal, said trigger signal comprising other than a reverse electrical signal;   providing said digital enable signal to a controller circuit coupled to both said enable logic and to said analog transmitter; and   said controller circuit turning on said analog laser transmitter when said enable signal is asserted, and turning off said analog laser transmitter when said enable signal is de-asserted.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said trigger signal comprises a control signal. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said control signal originates at a cable modem terminating system (CMTS). 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said control signal comprises a time-division-multiple-access (TDMA) control signal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said trigger signal comprises a “signal valid” signal from a carrier detect circuit. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said trigger signal is not a reverse electrical signal. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said enable signal comprises said trigger signal. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising said power controller circuit controlling said transmitter output power generated while said transmitter is turned on. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said controlling said transmitter output power comprises utilizing a laser monitor current in a feedback loop. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said providing a trigger signal comprises providing a plurality of parallel trigger signals.