Data center with free-space optical communications
First Claim
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1. A data center comprising:
- a plurality of data center units (DCUs) disposed in a region, wherein each DCU is configured to run a part or all of a data processing application;
an internal network of one or more free space optical communication links to at least a first of the plurality of data center units;
a modulator co-disposed with the first of the plurality of data center units in the region, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate a raw light beam and transmit a modulated light beam over the one or more free space optical communication links; and
at least one light beam source disposed external to the first of the plurality of data center units and configured to provide the raw light beam to the modulator.
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Abstract
A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A data center comprising:
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a plurality of data center units (DCUs) disposed in a region, wherein each DCU is configured to run a part or all of a data processing application; an internal network of one or more free space optical communication links to at least a first of the plurality of data center units; a modulator co-disposed with the first of the plurality of data center units in the region, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate a raw light beam and transmit a modulated light beam over the one or more free space optical communication links; and at least one light beam source disposed external to the first of the plurality of data center units and configured to provide the raw light beam to the modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of data center units (DCUs) disposed in a region, wherein each DCU is configured to run a part or all of a data processing application; providing an internal network of one or more free space optical communication links to at least a first of the plurality of data center units; providing a modulator associated with the first of the plurality of data center units in the region, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate a raw light beam and transmit a modulated light beam over the one or more free space optical communication links; and providing at least one light beam source disposed external to the first of the plurality of data center units and configured to provide the raw light beam to the modulator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A data center, comprising:
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a plurality of data center units (DCUs) disposed in a region, wherein each DCU is configured to run a part or all of a data processing application using a plurality of data processing units (DPUs) coupled to an intra-DCU network; and a plurality of optical interface units (OIUs) configurable to communicatively couple the plurality of DCUs in an internal network, wherein each OIU is configured to couple the intra-DCU network of a respective one of the DCUs to the internal network through one or more free space optical communication links, and wherein the OIUs include one or more independently steerable transmitting elements, independently steerable redirecting elements, and/or independently steerable receiving elements for communications over the free space optical communication links. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method, comprising:
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providing a plurality of data center units (DCUs) disposed in a data center, wherein each DCU is configured to run a part or all of a data processing application using a plurality of data processing units (DPUs) coupled to an intra-DCU network; and providing a plurality of optical interface units (OIUs) configurable to couple the plurality of DCUs in an internal network, wherein each OIU is configured to connect the intra-DCU network of a respective one of the plurality of DCUs to the internal network by use of one or more free space optical communication links, and wherein the OIUs include one or more acousto-optically and/or electrooptically steerable elements for transmitting, redirecting, and/or receiving communications over the free space optical communication links.
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Specification