1. A method of processing an optical signal having n components, where n>1, the method comprising:
characterizing polarization mode dispersion (PMD) levels of the n components;
selecting p of the n components based on the characterized PMD levels, where 0\u2266p<n;
applying PMD-reduction processing to the p selected components;
decoding each of the p selected components after the corresponding PMD-reduction processing; and
decoding each of the remaining components without performing PMD-reduction processing thereupon, wherein the method is implemented in a device comprising l PMD compensators, where 1\u2266l<n, that are time-shared for the PMD-reduction processing, with at least one of the l PMD compensators being configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to different selections of components during different periods of time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the l PMD compensators is configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to different selections of components during different periods of time.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the p components changes over time.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the value of p changes over time.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein each component of the optical signal corresponds to a communication channel of an optical communication system.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises, for each component, comparing the current level of PMD with a threshold value.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises selecting p components corresponding to the p highest current levels of PMD.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the p selected components are selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a device having one or more PMD compensators and further comprises the step of:
routing each of the remaining components to bypass all PMD compensators within the device.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein, for the step of selecting, 0<p<n.
11. An apparatus adapted to receive an optical signal having n components, where n>1, comprising:
a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) monitor adapted to characterize PMD levels of the n components;
a controller adapted to select p of the n components based on the characterized PMD levels, where 0\u2266p<n;
l PMD compensators, where 1\u2266l<n, wherein said l PMD compensators are adapted to apply PMD-reduction processing to the p selected components; and
a decoder adapted to (i) decode each of the p selected components after the corresponding PMD-reduction processing and (ii) decode each of the remaining components without performing PMD-reduction processing thereupon, wherein the l PMD compensators are time-shared for the PMD-reduction processing, with at least one of the l PMD compensators being configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to different selections of components during different periods of time.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the l PMD compensators is configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to different selections of components during different periods of time.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the selection of the p components changes over time.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the value of p changes over time.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a first optical switch having n input ports and m output ports, where m\u2267n wherein:
the decoder has m input ports and n output ports;
each input port of the first optical switch is configured to receive an optical signal corresponding to a different component;
the m output ports of the first switch are coupled to the m input ports of the decoder, wherein l output ports of the first switch are coupled to l input ports of the decoder via the l PMD compensators; and
the decoder is configured to generate n decoded signals corresponding to the n components.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the decoder comprises:
a second optical switch having m input ports, each corresponding to an input port of the decoder, and n output ports; and
a receiver away including n receivers, each coupled to the corresponding output port of the second switch and configured to generate the corresponding decoded signal.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the decoder comprises:
a receiver away including m receivers, each coupled to the corresponding input port of the decoder; and
a selector switch having m input ports, each coupled to the corresponding receiver, and n output ports, wherein the selector switch is configured to select n receiver outputs to generate the n decoded signals.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first switch comprises l optical tunable filters, each coupled to the corresponding PMD compensator.
19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
each component of the optical signal corresponds to a communication channel;
the l PMD compensators comprise first and second PMD compensators;
the first PMD compensator is configured to receive a first multiplexed optical signal corresponding to a first selection of optical channels; and
the second PMD compensator is configured to receive a second multiplexed optical signal corresponding to a second selection of optical channels different from the first selection.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first selection has odd-numbered communication channels and the second selection has even-numbered communication channels.
21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the remaining components is routed to bypass all PMD compensators within the apparatus.
22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is adapted to select the p of the n components, 0<p<n.
23. A method of processing an optical signal having n components, where n>1, the method comprising:
applying the optical signal to a device including l polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compensators, where 1\u2266l<n; and
subjecting the optical signal to PMD-reduction processing, wherein said l PMD compensators are time-shared for said processing, with each of the l PMD compensators being configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to different selections of components during different periods of time.
24. An apparatus adapted to receive an optical signal having n components, where n>1, comprising l PMD compensators, where 1\u2266l<n said l PMD compensators adapted to:
subject the optical signal to PMD-reduction processing; and
be time-shared for said processing, with each of said l PMD compensators being configurable to apply the PMD-reduction processing to a different selection of components during different periods of time.
25. An apparatus adapted to receive an optical signal having n components, where n>1, comprising:
a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) monitor adapted to characterize PMD levels of the n components;
a controller adapted to select p of the n components based on the characterized PMD levels, where 0\u2266p<n;
l PMD compensators, where 1\u2266l<n, wherein said l PMD compensators are adapted to apply PMD-reduction processing to the p selected components;
a first optical switch having n input ports and m output ports, where m\u2266n and
a decoder having m input ports and n output ports, wherein:
each input port of the first optical switch is configured to receive an optical signal corresponding to a different component;
the m output ports of the first switch are coupled to the m input ports of the decoder, wherein l output ports of the first switch are coupled to l input ports of the decoder via the l PMD compensators; and
the decoder is configured to generate n decoded signals corresponding to the n components.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the decoder comprises:
a second optical switch having m input ports, each corresponding to an input port of the decoder, and n output ports; and
a receiver away including n receivers, each coupled to the corresponding output port of the second switch and configured to generate the corresponding decoded signal.
27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the decoder comprises:
a receiver away including m receivers, each coupled to the corresponding input port of the decoder; and
a selector switch having m input ports, each coupled to the corresponding receiver, and n output ports, wherein the selector switch is configured to select n receiver outputs to generate the n decoded signals.
28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first switch comprises l optical tunable filters, each coupled to the corresponding PMD compensator.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A touch display structure for a touch display apparatus, wherein the touch display apparatus comprises a touch controller electrically connected to the touch display structure, the touch display structure comprising:
a display layer;
an electric circuit layer, being disposed under the display layer and comprising a substrate, a driving electrode and an upper touch electrode, wherein the driving electrode and the upper touch electrode are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate respectively and are electrically connected to the touch controller respectively; and
a lower touch electrode, being disposed under the upper touch electrode and electrically connected to the touch controller,
wherein the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode generate a touch signal in response to a press of a user, and the touch signal is received and processed by the touch controller and then transmitted to the driving electrode to drive the display layer.
2. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a touch electrode substrate, wherein the lower touch electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the touch electrode substrate.
3. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer disposed between the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode.
4. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric circuit layer further comprises at least one thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the driving electrode.
5. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).
6. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a glass plate or a polyimide (PI) sheet.
7. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode are made of a material selected from a group of: organic macromolecular polymers, metals, carbon nanotubes, graphite, carbon compounds, and combinations thereof.
8. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display layer further comprises a transparent electrode and an electrophoretic material.
9. A touch display apparatus, comprising:
a touch controller;
a touch display structure electrically connected to the touch controller, the touch display structure comprising:
a display layer;
an electric circuit layer, being disposed under the display layer and comprising a substrate, a driving electrode and an upper touch electrode, wherein the driving electrode and the upper touch electrode are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate respectively and are electrically connected to the touch controller respectively; and
a lower touch electrode, being disposed under the upper touch electrode and electrically connected to the touch controller,
wherein the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode generate a touch signal in response to a press of a user, and the touch signal is received and processed by the touch controller and then transmitted to the driving electrode to drive the display layer.
10. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the touch display structure further comprises a touch electrode substrate, and the lower touch electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the touch electrode substrate.
11. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the touch display structure further comprises at least one spacer disposed between the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode.
12. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electric circuit layer further comprises at least one TFT disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the driving electrode.
13. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the substrate is a PCB.
14. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the substrate is a glass plate or a PI sheet.
15. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upper touch electrode and the lower touch electrode are made of a material selected from a group of: organic macromolecular polymers, metals, carbon nanotubes, graphite, carbon compounds, and combinations thereof.
16. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display layer further comprises a transparent electrode and an electrophoretic material.
17. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the touch display apparatus is an E-ink panel or a flexible flat panel display.
18. A touch display structure for use in a touch display apparatus, wherein the touch display apparatus comprises a touch controller electrically connected to the touch display structure, the touch display structure comprising:
a display layer;
an electric circuit layer, being disposed under the display layer and comprising a substrate, a driving electrode and a first antenna layer electrode, wherein the driving electrode and the first antenna layer electrode are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate respectively and are electrically connected to the touch controller respectively; and
a second antenna layer electrode, being disposed under the first antenna layer electrode and electrically connected to the touch controller, wherein the first antenna layer electrode and the second antenna layer electrode form a magnetic field receiving surface,
wherein, in response to an electromagnetic signal, an energy distribution of the magnetic field receiving surface is altered to generate a touch signal, and the touch signal is received and processed by the touch controller and then transmitted to the driving electrode to drive the display layer.
19. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a touch electrode substrate, wherein the second antenna layer electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the touch electrode substrate.
20. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, further comprising an insulation layer disposed between the first antenna layer electrode and the second antenna layer electrode.
21. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electric circuit layer further comprises at least one TFT disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the driving electrode.
22. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the substrate is a PCB.
23. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the substrate is a glass plate or a PI sheet.
24. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first antenna layer electrode and the antenna layer electrode are made of a material selected from a group of: organic macromolecular polymers, metals, carbon nanotubes, graphite, carbon compounds, and combinations thereof.
25. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display layer further comprises a transparent electrode and an electrophoretic material.
26. The touch display structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic signal is generated by an electromagnetic pen.
27. A touch display apparatus, comprising:
a touch controller;
a touch display structure electrically connected to the touch controller, the touch display structure comprising:
a display layer;
an electric circuit layer, being disposed under the display layer and comprising a substrate, a driving electrode and a first antenna layer electrode, wherein the driving electrode and the first antenna layer electrode are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate respectively and are electrically connected to the touch controller respectively; and
a second antenna layer electrode, being disposed under the first antenna layer electrode and electrically connected to the touch controller, wherein the first antenna layer electrode and the second antenna layer electrode form a magnetic field receiving surface,
wherein, in response to an electromagnetic signal, an energy distribution of the magnetic field receiving surface is altered to generate a touch signal, and the touch signal is received and processed by the touch controller and then transmitted to the driving electrode to drive the display layer.
28. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the touch display structure further comprises a touch electrode substrate, wherein the second antenna layer electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the touch electrode substrate.
29. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the touch display structure further comprises an insulation layer disposed between the first antenna layer electrode and the second antenna layer electrode.
30. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the electric circuit layer further comprises at least one TFT disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the driving electrode.
31. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the substrate is a PCB.
32. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the substrate is a glass plate or a PI sheet.
33. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first antenna layer electrode and the second antenna layer electrode are made of a material selected from a group of: organic macromolecular polymers, metals, carbon nanotubes, graphite, carbon compounds, and combinations thereof.
34. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the display layer further comprises a transparent electrode and an electrophoretic material.
35. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the touch display apparatus is an E-ink panel or a flexible flat panel display.
36. The touch display apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the electromagnetic signal is generated by an electromagnetic pen.