Optoelectronic switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A switch module, for use in an optoelectronic switch, the switch module having:
- a client portion for connecting to an input device or an output device;
a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion, each for processing signals and communicating with other switch modules, the first fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side,the transmission side having;
a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying information including information about a destination switch module of the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either;
an output of the second fabric portion, oran input device, via the client portion;
a transmission side conversion means for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information;
a transmission side multiplexer for converting the first plurality of optical signals into a multiplexed fabric output signal for transmission to an active switch, andthe receiving side having;
a receiving side demultiplexer for receiving a multiplexed fabric input signal from an active switch and separating said multiplexed fabric input signal into a second plurality of optical signals;
a receiving side conversion means for converting the second plurality of optical signals into a second electronic signal, anda receiving side output for sending the second electronic signal to either;
a transmission side input of the second fabric portion, oran output device, via the client portion.
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Abstract
A switch module and optoelectronic switch incorporating the same. The optoelectronic switch includes an N-dimensional array of switch modules arranged in a topology in which each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays, the sub-arrays defined with reference to the coordinates of the constituent switch modules, and wherein all of the members of each sub-array are connected by an active switch, which in some embodiments may be an optical active switch or an electronic active switch.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A switch module, for use in an optoelectronic switch, the switch module having:
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a client portion for connecting to an input device or an output device; a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion, each for processing signals and communicating with other switch modules, the first fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side, the transmission side having; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying information including information about a destination switch module of the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; an output of the second fabric portion, or an input device, via the client portion; a transmission side conversion means for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information; a transmission side multiplexer for converting the first plurality of optical signals into a multiplexed fabric output signal for transmission to an active switch, and the receiving side having; a receiving side demultiplexer for receiving a multiplexed fabric input signal from an active switch and separating said multiplexed fabric input signal into a second plurality of optical signals; a receiving side conversion means for converting the second plurality of optical signals into a second electronic signal, and a receiving side output for sending the second electronic signal to either; a transmission side input of the second fabric portion, or an output device, via the client portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A switch module, for use in an optoelectronic switch, the switch module having:
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a client portion for connecting to an input device or an output device; a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion, each for processing signals and communicating with other switch modules, the first fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side, the transmission side having; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying information including information about a destination switch module of the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; an output of the second fabric portion, or an input device, via the client portion; a transmission side converter for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information; a transmission side multiplexer for converting the first plurality of optical signals into a multiplexed fabric output signal for transmission to an active switch, and the receiving side having; a receiving side demultiplexer for receiving a multiplexed fabric input signal from an active switch and separating said multiplexed fabric input signal into a second plurality of optical signals; a receiving side converter for converting the second plurality of optical signals into a second electronic signal, and a receiving side output for sending the second electronic signal to either; a transmission side input of the second fabric portion, or an output device, via the client portion.
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Specification