JP2013258597A - Optical transceiver and temperature control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the current consumption of an optical transceiver and the time, which elapses before the temperature of an electrooptical conversion element is stabilized, according to the environmental temperature of the optical transceiver.SOLUTION: An optical transceiver includes: an electrooptical conversion element 14 including an electrooptical conversion part, a thermoelectric element which performs heating and cooling of the electrooptical conversion part, and a temperature detection element detecting a temperature of the electrooptical conversion part; a thermoelectron driving circuit 13 which controls heating and cooling of the thermoelectric element; an optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 which detects a temperature of an optical transceiver; a controller 10 which calculates an output value according to a set target temperature of the electrooptical conversion part on the basis of the output from the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit and the output from the temperature detection element and outputs the output value; and a feedback circuit which controls the thermoelectron driving circuit so that a difference between the output value from the controller and the output value from the temperature detection element becomes small.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical transceiver and a temperature control method of the optical transceiver, and more particularly to an optical transceiver including an electro-optic conversion element having a thermoelectric element and a temperature control method of the optical transceiver.

  As an optical transceiver including an electro-optic conversion element having a thermoelectric element, for example, there is an optical transmission assembly described in Patent Document 1 and an optical transceiver incorporating the optical transmission assembly. Patent Document 1 discloses a small, inexpensive, high-speed optical transmission assembly in which an electronic cooler is mounted on a metal bottom plate, and a semiconductor light emitting element is mounted on the electronic cooler via an insulating substrate. And an optical transceiver incorporating the optical transmission assembly.

  Patent Document 2 describes an invention relating to power optimization of photoelectric conversion device operation performed using a thermoelectric cooling element. Patent Document 2 describes that the amount of power (current × voltage) used by the optoelectronic module is minimized.

  Patent Document 3 describes that the temperature of a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser is detected and the temperature of the semiconductor laser is optimally controlled according to the detection result.

  Patent Document 4 describes an invention relating to a method for controlling an optical transmitter. Patent Document 4 describes a TEC (Peltier) element that controls the temperature of a laser diode and a TEC control circuit.

JP 2005-236297 A Special table 2007-523493 Japanese Patent No. 4433720 JP 2009-200339 A

  However, in the background art described above, the control circuit controls the thermoelectric elements such as the electronic cooler and the TEC (Peltier) element by the difference between the constant set target temperature and the actual temperature, so the response speed of the circuit is changed after production. Can not.

  For this reason, changes in current consumption and temperature stabilization time of optical transceivers, photoelectric conversion devices, and the like vary depending on the difference between the set target temperature and the actual temperature of the electro-optic conversion element.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical transceiver capable of controlling the current consumption of the optical transceiver and the time until the temperature stabilization of the electro-optic conversion element according to the environmental temperature of the optical transceiver, and a temperature control method for the optical transceiver. is there.

An optical transceiver according to the present invention includes an electro-optic conversion unit, a thermoelectric element that heats and cools the electro-optic conversion unit, and a temperature detection element that detects a temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Thermoelectric drive means for controlling heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element;
An optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting an optical transceiver temperature;
A controller that calculates and sequentially outputs an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Feedback means for controlling the thermionic driving means so as to reduce the difference between the output value from the controller and the output value from the temperature detection element;
Is an optical transceiver.

An optical transceiver temperature control method according to the present invention includes an electro-optic conversion unit, a thermoelectric element for heating and cooling the electro-optic conversion unit, an electro-optic conversion element including a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit, An optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting a transceiver temperature, and a temperature control method for an optical transceiver comprising:
A first step in which the optical transceiver calculates an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
A second step in which the optical transceiver controls heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element so that a difference between the output value and an output value from the temperature detection element is reduced;
Is a temperature control method for an optical transceiver comprising:

  According to the present invention, the current consumption of the optical transceiver and the time until the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is stabilized can be controlled in accordance with the environmental temperature of the optical transceiver.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the optical transceiver concerning this invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a thermoelectric element temperature control operation of the optical transceiver of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the optical transceiver of a comparative example. It is a flowchart which shows the thermoelectric element temperature control operation | movement of the optical transceiver of a comparative example. It is a characteristic view which shows the transient response (calculated value) of the electric current amount which flows into a thermoelectric element. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between a response speed and current consumption. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between a response speed and temperature stabilization time. 6 is a flowchart showing another thermoelectric element temperature control operation of the optical transceiver of FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, a comparative example for the optical transceiver of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical transceiver of a comparative example. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the thermoelectric element temperature control operation of the optical transceiver of the comparative example.

  The optical transceiver of the comparative example shown in FIG. 3 includes a feedback circuit 12, a thermoelectric element driving circuit 13, and an electro-optic conversion element 14. The electro-optic conversion element 14 includes an electro-optic conversion unit that modulates an optical output signal based on an electric modulation signal, a thermo-electric element that heats and cools the electro-optic conversion unit, and a thermistor (which becomes a temperature detection element) that detects the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit. I have. Since the temperature detected by the terminal voltage of the thermistor is substantially the same as the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit and thermoelectric element, it can be said that the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is detected. In FIG. 3, for simplification, the electrical modulation signal input to the electro-optic conversion unit and the optical output signal output from the electro-optic conversion unit are omitted. 3 will be described in detail in the description of the optical transceiver shown in FIG. 1 described later.

In the initial state, it is assumed that the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element of the optical transceiver shown in FIG. 3 is 85 degrees Celsius (hereinafter referred to as 85 degrees), the thermistor terminal voltage is 0.44 V, and the current flowing into the thermoelectric element is 0 V.
A constant voltage (here, 1.66 V) corresponding to a set target temperature (for example, 25 degrees Celsius (hereinafter referred to as 25 degrees)) of the electro-optic conversion element 14 is applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12. Applied.

  At this time, the terminal voltage (thermistor terminal voltage) of the electro-optic conversion element temperature output corresponding to 85 degrees is applied to the positive side input terminal 104 of the feedback circuit 12 from the electro-optic conversion element temperature output terminal 108 of the electro-optic conversion element 14. The

  The feedback circuit 12 controls the voltage applied to the current control terminal 105 of the thermoelectric element drive circuit 13 so that the terminal voltage of the positive side input terminal 104 and the terminal voltage of the negative side input terminal 103 become small (FIG. 4). Step S14).

  The thermoelectric element drive circuit 13 controls the direction and amount of current flowing between the positive side input terminal 106 and the negative side input terminal 107 of the electro-optic conversion element 14 according to the terminal voltage of the current control terminal 105 (FIG. 4). Step S15).

  The thermoelectric element of the electro-optic conversion element 14 cools the electro-optic conversion unit based on the direction and amount of current flowing between the positive side input terminal 106 and the negative side input terminal 107 (step S16 in FIG. 4). Here, a current is passed in the direction of cooling the electro-optic conversion element 14 incorporating the thermoelectric element from 85 degrees to 25 degrees. Although the case where the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 is higher than the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element has been described, when the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 is higher than the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element, the thermoelectric element Heat the part.

  Until the thermistor terminal voltage input to the positive side input terminal 104 of the feedback circuit 12 becomes the same as the constant voltage input to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12 (step S17 in FIG. 4), steps S14 to S16 are performed. Is repeated.

  In the optical transceiver of the comparative example, since a constant voltage is applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12, the response speed of the feedback circuit 12 cannot be changed. For this reason, the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 changes abruptly, and it takes a lot of time to stabilize the temperature. This point will be further described below.

  When the thermoelectric element starts heating and cooling the electro-optic conversion element unit, the current consumption of the optical transceiver changes. A change in current consumption of the optical transceiver may cause a change in current consumption, an instantaneous voltage drop, and generation of electromagnetic noise in a communication apparatus that operates by inserting the optical transceiver.

  The time from when the thermoelectric element starts heating and cooling the electro-optic conversion unit to when it ends is longer as the difference between the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 and the actual temperature is larger.

  There is a negative correlation between the change in the current consumption of the optical transceiver and the temperature stabilization time, and the optimum value depends on the difference between the set target temperature of the thermoelectric element and the actual temperature. Here, it is desirable that the current consumption change be more gradual, and that the temperature stabilization time be shorter.

  FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the optical transceiver consumption current change amount and the response speed of the feedback circuit 12. The dotted line represents the amount of change in current consumption when the temperature difference is large. A two-dot broken line represents the amount of change in current consumption when the temperature difference is small.

  A change in current consumption of the optical transceiver causes a change in current consumption, an instantaneous voltage drop, and generation of electromagnetic noise in a communication apparatus that is operated by inserting the optical transceiver. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, it is desirable that the consumption current change of the optical transceiver is small, and it is desirable to determine the response speed so that the consumption current change is at least smaller than the standard indicated by the broken line.

  FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the temperature change time and the response speed of the feedback circuit 12. The broken line represents the temperature stabilization time when the temperature difference is large. The one-dot broken line represents the temperature stabilization time when the temperature difference is small.

  As shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable that the temperature stabilization time of the optical transceiver is as short as possible, and it is desirable to complete the temperature stabilization in at least a time shorter than the standard indicated by the broken line.

  As understood from FIGS. 6 and 7, if the response speed is slowed down to reduce the consumption current change, the temperature stabilization time cannot satisfy the standard. Conversely, if the response speed is increased in order to keep the temperature stabilization time within the standard, the current consumption does not meet the standard.

  That is, a condition having a sufficient margin for the power consumption change amount and the temperature stabilization time is a suitable value for the feedback circuit response speed, and the value varies depending on the difference between the set target temperature and the actual temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14. .

  FIG. 5 shows a transient response graph of the electro-optic conversion element temperature after the start of temperature control. Here, the dotted line is the set target temperature.

  A broken line indicates a transient response of the electro-optic conversion element temperature when the response speed of the feedback circuit is faster than a desired value. When the response speed is faster than the desired value, the electro-optic conversion element temperature changes greatly immediately after the start of temperature control, as indicated by the broken line. At this time, the amount of current flowing into the thermoelectric element greatly changes as the temperature changes. A large change in current consumption may cause a change in current consumption, instantaneous voltage drop, and generation of electromagnetic noise.

  A dashed line shows a transient response of the electro-optic conversion element temperature when the response speed of the feedback circuit is slower than a desired value. When the response speed is slower than the desired value, the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element changes gradually as indicated by a dashed line. Therefore, since the amount of current flowing into the thermoelectric element also changes slowly, almost no change in current consumption, instantaneous voltage drop, or electromagnetic noise occurs. However, since the electro-optic conversion element is required to stabilize the temperature as soon as possible after the start of temperature control, the one-dot broken line condition that takes time for temperature stabilization is not desirable.

  That is, the desired response speed value of the feedback circuit is a value indicating a state where the temperature is quickly stabilized without causing a change in current consumption, an instantaneous voltage drop, and generation of electromagnetic noise. The optimum value of the response speed varies depending on the difference between the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 and the actual temperature.

  In the optical transceiver shown in FIG. 3, the response speed of the feedback circuit 12 is determined at the time of designing the optical transceiver and cannot be changed after production. For this reason, depending on the environment in which the optical transceiver is placed, the response speed of the current control feedback circuit is not a desirable value, and may be faster or slower than that value.

  The optical transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention described below has a response speed of a feedback circuit, a change in current consumption of the optical transceiver, and a temperature stabilization time according to a difference between a set target temperature and an actual temperature even after production. It can be controlled to a desired value (for example, a transient response of the electro-optic conversion element temperature indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5).

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an optical transceiver according to the present invention.

  The optical transceiver shown in FIG. 1 includes a microcontroller 10, an optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11, a feedback circuit 12, a thermoelectric element drive circuit 13, and an electro-optic conversion element 14. 3 is that a microcontroller 10 and an optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 are provided. In FIG. 1, the same components as those in FIG.

  The optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 detects the temperature of the optical transceiver (the temperature of the space inside the optical transceiver) and outputs it to the transceiver temperature input unit 102 of the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10.

The microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 uses the optical transceiver temperature output inputted to the transceiver temperature input unit 102 and the current thermistor terminal voltage inputted to the electrooptic conversion element temperature input unit 101 as the target temperature. The thermistor terminal voltage necessary for the calculation is calculated, and the voltage that changes from the current thermistor voltage to the thermistor terminal voltage corresponding to the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is calculated. Then, the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 sequentially outputs the calculated voltages to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12. It is desirable that the voltage change be performed in stages, and there are the following methods for calculating the voltage that changes in stages.
(1) Dividing the difference between the thermistor terminal voltage of the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 and the thermistor terminal voltage of the current temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 into N stages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) Then, the output (thermistor terminal voltage) that changes stepwise is calculated. In this case, the width of the step in which the voltage increases or decreases is determined by the number of divisions.
(2) Based on the thermistor terminal voltage of the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 and the current temperature voltage detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11, the set target temperature is calculated from the thermistor terminal voltage of the current detected temperature. Set the step width of the voltage (thermistor terminal voltage) to be increased or decreased step by step to the thermistor terminal voltage, and determine the output value by adding or subtracting the step width to the voltage corresponding to the current detected temperature step by step. .

  The calculation of the output values (1) and (2) is performed when the temperature control of the optical transceiver is started, and the output value that changes stepwise is sequentially supplied to the feedback circuit 12 until the set temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is reached. Output (operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 2 described later). However, after the temperature control of the optical transceiver is started, the output value is sequentially calculated based on the voltage of the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 and the thermistor terminal voltage of the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14. (Operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 described later). By doing so, it is possible to output an output value corresponding to the temperature change of the optical transceiver after the temperature control of the optical transceiver is started. For example, when the microcontroller 10 determines that the temperature drop of the optical transceiver is large, the number of divisions can be increased or the step width can be reduced.

  Further, when calculating an output value that changes stepwise based on the thermistor terminal voltage of the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 and the thermistor terminal voltage of the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14, Rather than calculating the stepped voltage from the step, the voltage corresponding to the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 is sequentially calculated and applied to the feedback circuit. May be applied.

  After outputting the voltage to the feedback circuit 12, the microcontroller 10 detects a change in temperature of the electro-optic conversion element from the electro-optic conversion element temperature output (thermistor terminal voltage) input to the electro-optic conversion element temperature input unit 101, and stabilizes the temperature. The next voltage that rises or falls is output.

  An electro-optic conversion element temperature output (thermistor terminal voltage) from the electro-optic conversion element 14 is applied to the positive side input terminal 104 of the feedback circuit 12. The feedback circuit 12 controls the output voltage so that the potential difference between the positive side input terminal 104 and the negative side input terminal 103 is small. The output voltage from the feedback circuit 12 is applied to the current control terminal 105 of the thermoelectric element driving circuit 13.

  The thermoelectric element drive circuit 13 determines the direction and amount of current flowing between the positive side input terminal 106 and the negative side input terminal 107 of the electro-optic conversion element 14 incorporating the thermoelectric element according to the terminal voltage of the current control terminal 105. Control.

  The electro-optic conversion element 14 includes an electro-optic conversion unit that modulates an optical output signal based on an electric modulation signal, a thermo-electric element that heats and cools the electro-optic conversion unit, and a thermistor (which becomes a temperature detection element) that detects the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit. I have. Since the temperature detected by the terminal voltage of the thermistor is substantially the same as the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit and thermoelectric element, it can be said that the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is detected. In FIG. 1, for simplification, the electrical modulation signal input to the electro-optic conversion unit and the optical output signal output from the electro-optic conversion unit are omitted. The thermoelectric element heats or cools the electro-optic conversion unit based on the direction and amount of current flowing between the positive side input terminal 106 and the negative side input terminal 107.

  The resistance value of the thermistor changes according to the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element. Further, the thermistor terminal voltage corresponding to the thermistor and the voltage dividing resistor is output from the electro-optic conversion element temperature output terminal 108. The resistance value of the thermistor decreases when the electro-optic conversion element is at a high temperature, and the thermistor terminal voltage decreases. On the other hand, the resistance value of the thermistor increases and the thermistor terminal voltage increases when the electro-optic conversion element is at a low temperature.

  Hereinafter, the thermoelectric element temperature control operation of the optical transceiver of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the optical transceiver of FIG. In the initial state, the temperature of the optical transceiver shown in FIG. 1 is 85 degrees, the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is 85 degrees, the thermistor terminal voltage is 0.44 V, and the current flowing into the thermoelectric element is 0 V. The optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 outputs an output corresponding to the optical transceiver temperature of 85 degrees to the microcontroller 10. The electro-optic conversion element 14 outputs an electro-optic conversion element temperature output (thermistor terminal voltage) corresponding to a temperature of 85 degrees to the microcontroller 10 and the feedback circuit.

  The microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 starts the temperature control operation triggered by the optical transceiver temperature output input to the transceiver temperature input unit 102. The microcontroller 10 uses the optical thermistor temperature output input to the transceiver temperature input unit 102 and the current thermistor terminal voltage input to the electro-optic conversion element temperature input unit 101 to set the electro-optic conversion element temperature as the target temperature. Calculate the required thermistor terminal voltage. Then, a voltage that changes stepwise from the current thermistor voltage to the thermistor terminal voltage corresponding to the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is calculated. Thus, the voltage to be applied to the negative input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12 is determined and applied to the negative input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12. Here, the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 calculates the thermistor terminal voltage (1.66 V) necessary for setting the electro-optic conversion element temperature to the target temperature (25 degrees) (step S11), and calculates the thermistor terminal voltage A voltage changing in a plurality of stages from 0.44 V to 1.66 V is calculated, and the voltage is sequentially applied to the negative side input terminal 103 (steps S12 and S13).

  At this time, the terminal voltage of the electro-optic conversion element temperature output is applied from the electro-optic conversion element 14 to the positive side input terminal 104 of the feedback circuit 12.

  The feedback circuit 12 controls the output voltage so that the potential difference between the positive input terminal 104 and the negative input terminal 103 is small (step S14). The output voltage is applied to the current control terminal 105.

  The thermoelectric element drive circuit 13 causes a current to flow between the positive side input terminal 106 and the negative side input terminal 107 of the electro-optic conversion element 14 incorporating the thermoelectric element in accordance with the voltage applied to the current control terminal 105 (step S15). ).

  At this time, the cooling operation is performed when the voltage applied to the current control terminal 105 is 0 V or more and less than 1.5 V, and the heating operation is performed when the voltage is 1.5 V or more and 3.0 V or less. Here, a larger current flows as the difference from 1.5V increases. Here, a cooling operation is performed (step S16).

  If the thermistor terminal voltage is not the set target value 1.66 V, steps S13 to S15 are repeated (step S17). When the thermistor terminal voltage reaches the set target value 1.66V, the feedback circuit 12 sets the voltage applied to the current control terminal 105 to 1.5V.

  According to this embodiment, the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 applies the voltage applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the current control feedback circuit 12 to the difference between the set temperature and the actual temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 incorporating the thermoelectric element. Therefore, the control can be performed at a desired response speed of the current control feedback circuit 12.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the microcontroller 10 changes the voltage applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12 stepwise in order to achieve a desired response speed.

  The stepwise change in the applied voltage can be realized by using interpolation using a linear function between the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 and the actual temperature.

  In this embodiment, every time the microcontroller 10 changes the voltage applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12, the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 incorporating the thermoelectric element is waited for (step S18). The temperature stability of the electro-optic conversion element 14 is detected by the thermistor terminal voltage input to the electro-optic conversion element temperature input unit 101. The microcontroller 10 determines that the temperature is stable when the thermistor terminal voltage input to the electro-optic conversion element temperature input unit 101 matches the voltage output from the microcontroller 10 a predetermined number of times, and outputs the next voltage value. Move to the next temperature setting.

  In the present embodiment, the number of divisions and the step width when temporarily interpolating the voltage applied to the negative side input terminal 103 of the feedback circuit 12 can be controlled by the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10. Further, the microcontroller (microcomputer) 10 can control the number of comparisons between the thermistor terminal voltage input to the electro-optic conversion element temperature input unit 101 and the voltage output from the microcontroller 10. As a result, the response speed of the feedback circuit 12 can be maintained at a desired value according to the environment in which the optical transceiver is placed. That is, a desired response speed as shown in FIG. 5 can be set.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 2, the output value to be output to the feedback circuit 12 is calculated when the temperature control of the optical transceiver is started, and the output value that changes stepwise is sequentially fed back until the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element is reached. It is output to the circuit 12. However, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, after the temperature control of the optical transceiver is started, the thermistor terminal voltage of the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 11 and the thermistor terminal voltage of the set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion element 14 The output values may be calculated sequentially based on

According to the optical transceiver of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there is an effect that the problem that occurs when the response speed is higher than a desired value can be solved as follows.
(1) The occurrence of overshoot in the current consumption can be suppressed. In particular, in the configuration of the comparative example, the current consumption changes particularly greatly at the start of temperature control of the electro-optic conversion element. However, according to the present embodiment, the current consumption is controlled stepwise by the microcontroller, so the current consumption is overshot. Can be suppressed.
(2) The internal voltage of the communication device that operates by inserting the optical transceiver or the power supply voltage of another device that shares the power supply due to a sudden change in the current consumption of the optical transceiver can be prevented from instantaneously decreasing. .
(3) It is possible to suppress the generation of electromagnetic noise due to a large change in the current amount of the optical transceiver.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, there is an effect that the problem that occurs when the response speed is slower than the desired value can be solved as follows.
(4) The time required for temperature stabilization of the electro-optic conversion element can be set as a desirable time. This is because in this embodiment, the time until the temperature is stabilized is controlled by the microcontroller, so that the temperature can be stabilized at a desired time regardless of the environment of the optical transceiver.

  In the optical transceiver of the present embodiment described above, the stepwise change of the terminal voltage is caused by the microcontroller 10, but the microcontroller 10 may be replaced with an FPGA, an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, or other control means.

  In addition, the stepwise change in terminal voltage due to the linear function calculation is also caused by a quadratic function, table value reading using temperature as an index (generally called a lookup table), FPGA, electronic circuit, logic circuit, or other arithmetic functions. realizable.

  In addition, the temperature stabilization wait time when the set temperature is changed in stages is determined based on the number of comparison matches between the set target and actual temperature. You may judge.

  The set target temperature of the thermoelectric element may have a plurality of set target temperatures, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-030229, in addition to the constant temperature setting.

  According to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-030229, the microcontroller has a plurality of set target temperatures depending on the environment in which the optical transceiver is placed.

  For example, when the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit shows a value of −40 ° C. to 0 ° C., control is performed so that the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element incorporating the thermoelectric element becomes 0 ° C.

  When the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit shows a value of 60 ° C. to 85 ° C., control is performed so that the temperature of the electro-optic conversion element incorporating the thermoelectric element becomes 60 ° C.

  When the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit indicates a value from 0 ° C. to 60 ° C., control is performed so that the temperature indicated by the optical transceiver temperature detection circuit matches the temperature indicated by the electro-optic conversion element incorporating the thermoelectric element.

  A part or all of the above embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited to the following configuration.

(Appendix 1)
An electro-optic conversion element including an electro-optic conversion unit, a thermoelectric element for heating and cooling the electro-optic conversion unit, and a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Thermoelectric drive means for controlling heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element;
An optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting an optical transceiver temperature;
A controller that calculates and sequentially outputs an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Feedback means for controlling the thermionic driving means so as to reduce the difference between the output value from the controller and the output value from the temperature detection element;
With optical transceiver.

(Appendix 2)
The controller detects the temperature from the output value from the temperature detection element after outputting the output value to the feedback means, waits until the temperature is stabilized, and then outputs the next output value. The optical transceiver according to Supplementary Note 1.

(Appendix 3)
The controller is divided into N stages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) based on the difference between the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means, and calculates an output value that changes in stages. The optical transceiver according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the optical transceiver outputs sequentially.

(Appendix 4)
The controller sets a step width that gradually increases or decreases from the temperature to the set target temperature based on the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting unit, and the temperature 3. The optical transceiver according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein output values obtained by adding or subtracting the step width in stages are sequentially output.

(Appendix 5)
An electro-optical conversion unit, a thermo-electric element for heating and cooling the electro-optical conversion unit, an electro-optical conversion element including a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the electro-optical conversion unit, and an optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting an optical transceiver temperature. An optical transceiver temperature control method comprising:
A first step in which the optical transceiver calculates an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
A second step in which the optical transceiver controls heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element so that a difference between the output value and an output value from the temperature detection element is reduced;
Temperature control method for an optical transceiver comprising:

(Appendix 6)
In the second step, the optical transceiver controls the heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element, detects the temperature based on the output value from the temperature detecting element, waits until the temperature becomes stable, and then stepwise 6. The temperature control method for an optical transceiver according to appendix 5, wherein heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element are controlled so that a difference between an output value changed to 1 and an output value from the temperature detection element becomes small.

(Appendix 7)
In the first step, the optical transceiver is divided into N stages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) based on the difference between the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means, and is stepwise. 7. The temperature control method for an optical transceiver according to appendix 5 or 6, characterized in that an output value that changes to is calculated.

(Appendix 8)
In the first step, the optical transceiver increases or decreases stepwise from the temperature to the set target temperature based on the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means. The temperature control method for an optical transceiver according to appendix 5 or 6, wherein an output value obtained by adding or subtracting the step width to the temperature stepwise is calculated.

  The present invention is used in an optical transceiver having an electro-optic conversion element having a thermoelectric element and a temperature control method of the optical transceiver, and an optical transceiver is inserted which is required to suppress a change in current consumption, an instantaneous voltage drop, and electromagnetic noise. It is applied to communication devices that operate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Microcontroller 11 Optical transceiver temperature detection circuit 12 Feedback circuit 13 Thermoelectric element drive circuit 14 Electro-optic conversion element

Claims (8)

An electro-optic conversion element including an electro-optic conversion unit, a thermoelectric element for heating and cooling the electro-optic conversion unit, and a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Thermoelectric drive means for controlling heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element;
An optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting an optical transceiver temperature;
A controller that calculates and sequentially outputs an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
Feedback means for controlling the thermionic driving means so as to reduce the difference between the output value from the controller and the output value from the temperature detection element;
With optical transceiver.   The controller detects the temperature from the output value from the temperature detection element after outputting the output value to the feedback means, waits until the temperature is stabilized, and then outputs the next output value. The optical transceiver according to claim 1.   The controller is divided into N stages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) based on the difference between the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means, and calculates an output value that changes in stages. The optical transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the optical transceiver outputs the data sequentially.   The controller sets a step width that gradually increases or decreases from the temperature to the set target temperature based on the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting unit, and the temperature The optical transceiver according to claim 1, wherein output values obtained by adding or subtracting the step width in stages are sequentially output. An electro-optical conversion unit, a thermo-electric element for heating and cooling the electro-optical conversion unit, an electro-optical conversion element including a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the electro-optical conversion unit, and an optical transceiver temperature detecting means for detecting an optical transceiver temperature. An optical transceiver temperature control method comprising:
A first step in which the optical transceiver calculates an output value that changes based on an output from the optical transceiver temperature detection means and a set target temperature of the electro-optic conversion unit;
A second step in which the optical transceiver controls heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element so that a difference between the output value and an output value from the temperature detection element is reduced;
Temperature control method for an optical transceiver comprising:   In the second step, the optical transceiver controls the heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element, detects the temperature based on the output value from the temperature detecting element, waits until the temperature becomes stable, and then stepwise 6. The temperature control method for an optical transceiver according to claim 5, wherein heating and cooling by the thermoelectric element are controlled so that a difference between an output value that has changed to an output value and an output value from the temperature detection element becomes small.   In the first step, the optical transceiver is divided into N stages (N is a natural number of 2 or more) based on the difference between the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means, and is stepwise. 7. The method of controlling temperature of an optical transceiver according to claim 5, wherein an output value that changes to is calculated.   In the first step, the optical transceiver increases or decreases stepwise from the temperature to the set target temperature based on the set target temperature and the temperature detected by the optical transceiver temperature detecting means. 7. The temperature control method for an optical transceiver according to claim 5, wherein an output value obtained by adding or subtracting the step width to the temperature step by step is calculated.

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