Methods and systems for reducing optical beat interference via polarization diversity in fttx networks

Abstract

Methods of reducing optical beat interference in a fiber optic network are provided. The optical fiber network may have a plurality of optical network units that communicate with a shared receiver. The optical signals that are transmitted from the optical network units to the receiver may have polarization states that are selected to reduce optical beat interference at the receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing optical beat interference in a fiber optic network that has a plurality of optical network units communicating with a shared receiver, the method comprising:
 transmitting optical signals from the optical network units to the receiver that have polarization states that are selected to reduce optical beat interference at the receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting optical signals from the optical network units to the receiver that have polarization states that are selected to reduce optical beat interference at the receiver comprises setting the polarization state of at least one of the optical signals to a polarization state that reduces optical beat interference. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first of the optical signals is set to a first polarization state and a second of the optical signals is set to a second polarization state that is substantially orthogonal to the first polarization state. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein lasers at first and second of the optical network units that transmit the first and second of the optical signals are tuned to transmit optical signals at a first wavelength at room temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a laser at a third of the optical network units that transmits a third of the optical signals is tuned to transmit optical signals at a second wavelength at room temperature that is different than the first wavelength. 
     
     
         6 . A method of reducing optical beat interference in a fiber optic network in which a first optical network unit and a second optical network unit communicate with a shared receiver over respective first and second optical transmission paths that both include a shared optical fiber, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first optical signal from the first optical network unit to the receiver over the first optical transmission path where the first optical signal has a first polarization state when transmitted over the shared optical fiber;   transmitting a second optical signal from the second optical network unit to the receiver over the second optical transmission path where the second optical signal has a second polarization state when transmitted over the shared optical fiber, the second polarization state being angularly separated from the first polarization state by at least about 120 degrees.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first polarization state is substantially orthogonal to the second polarization state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 transmitting a third optical signal from a third optical network unit to the receiver over a third optical transmission path that includes the shared optical fiber, where the third optical signal has a third polarization state when transmitted over the shared optical fiber, the third polarization state being angularly separated from both the first polarization state and the second polarization state by at least about 120 degrees.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second polarization states are pre-selected in order to reduce optical beat interference. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second optical signals are set to the respective first and second polarization states at an optical splitter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 using a first temperature control system of the first optical network unit to control a temperature of a first laser that is included in the first optical network unit according to a first algorithm; and   using a second temperature control system of the second optical network unit to control a temperature of a second laser that is included in the second optical network unit according to a second algorithm that is different than the first algorithm.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first algorithm sets the temperature of the first laser to a first predefined base temperature and the second algorithm sets the temperature of the second laser to a second predefined base temperature that is different than the first base temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first algorithm further varies the temperature of the first laser about the first predefined base temperature and the second algorithm further varies the temperature of the second laser about the second predefined base temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first algorithm automatically varies the temperature of the first laser according to a first continuous function and the second algorithm automatically varies the temperature of the second laser according to a second continuous function that is different from the first continuous function. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first optical transmission path includes at least a first optical fiber that connects the first optical network unit to an optical splitter/combiner and the shared optical fiber that is interposed between the optical splitter/combiner and the receiver, and the second optical transmission path includes at least a second optical fiber that connects the second optical network unit to the optical splitter/combiner and the shared optical fiber. 
     
     
         16 . A splitter for an optical network, comprising:
 an input port;   a plurality of output ports; and   a plurality of polarization converters that are associated with respective ones of at least some of the plurality of output ports.   
     
     
         17 . The splitter of  claim 16 , wherein the polarization converters comprise a first set of polarization converters that are configured to convert optical signals into a first polarization state and a second set of polarization converters that are configured to convert optical signals into a second polarization state, wherein the first polarization state is substantially orthogonal to the second polarization state. 
     
     
         18 . The splitter of  claim 16 , wherein the polarization converters comprise a first set of polarization converters that are configured to convert optical signals into a first polarization state, a second set of polarization converters that are configured to convert optical signals into a second polarization state, and a third set of polarization converters that are configured to convert optical signals into a third polarization state, wherein the difference in polarization between the first polarization state and the second polarization state is approximately equal to the difference in polarization between the second polarization state and the third polarization state.