Optoelectronic switch architectures
First Claim
1. An optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric, wherein:
- the switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions;
each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, and each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension, andeach switch module has;
a client portion for connecting to an input device and/or an output device;
a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion, configured to process signals and communicate with other switch modules, each of the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side,wherein the transmission side of the first fabric portion includes;
a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying destination information about a destination switch module for the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either;
a receiving side output of the second fabric portion oran input device, via the client portion;
a modulator for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information, the wavelength of each of the first plurality of optical signals selected based on the destination information;
a transmission side passive router having inputs and outputs, the path of an optical signal from a given input dependent on the wavelength of that optical signal,wherein the receiving side of the first fabric portion includes;
a receiving side passive router having inputs and outputs, whereinthe path of an optical signal through the receiving side passive router depends on the wavelength of that optical signal, andan input of each receiving side passive router is optically connected to an output of a first passive router on each other switch module in the same sub-array, and is configured to receive an optical signal from that output;
a photodetector for converting a second plurality of optical signals from the receiving side passive router into a corresponding 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, oran output device, via the client portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric. The switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions. Each switch module is a member of N such sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, and each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension.
57 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric, wherein:
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the switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions; each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, and each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension, and each switch module has; a client portion for connecting to an input device and/or an output device; a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion, configured to process signals and communicate with other switch modules, each of the first fabric portion and the second fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side, wherein the transmission side of the first fabric portion includes; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying destination information about a destination switch module for the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; a receiving side output of the second fabric portion or an input device, via the client portion; a modulator for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information, the wavelength of each of the first plurality of optical signals selected based on the destination information; a transmission side passive router having inputs and outputs, the path of an optical signal from a given input dependent on the wavelength of that optical signal, wherein the receiving side of the first fabric portion includes; a receiving side passive router having inputs and outputs, wherein the path of an optical signal through the receiving side passive router depends on the wavelength of that optical signal, and an input of each receiving side passive router is optically connected to an output of a first passive router on each other switch module in the same sub-array, and is configured to receive an optical signal from that output; a photodetector for converting a second plurality of optical signals from the receiving side passive router into a corresponding 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 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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2. An optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric, wherein:
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the switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions; each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, and each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension, and each switch module has; 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, wherein the transmission side of the first fabric portion includes; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying destination information about a destination switch module for the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; a receiving side output of the second fabric portion or an input device, via the client portion; a modulator 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 signal, a transmission side active switch having an input for receiving the multiplexed fabric signal, and at least (Ri−
1) outputs, each output associated with one of the other switch modules in the same sub-array, the transmission side active switch configured to direct the multiplexed fabric signal from its input to any one of its outputs, based on the destination information;wherein the receiving side of the first fabric portion includes; a receiving side active switch, having at least (Ri−
1) inputs, each associated with one of the other switch modules in the same sub-array, and an output, the at least (Ri−
1) inputs each configured to receive a multiplexed fabric signal from an output of a transmission side active switch of one of the other switch modules in the same sub-array, and configured to direct the multiplexed fabric signal from the input at which it is received to the output;a receiving side demultiplexer for receiving the multiplexed fabric signal from the receiving side active switch, and configured to convert it into a second plurality of optical signals; a photodetector for converting a second plurality of optical signals into a corresponding 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 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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3. An optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric, wherein:
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the switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions; each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising; Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension, and a set of passive routers, each having inputs and outputs, the path of an optical signal through any one of the passive routers from a given input being dependent on the wavelength of that optical signal; each switch module has; a client portion for connecting to an input device or an output device; and 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, wherein the transmission side of the first fabric portion includes; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying destination information about a destination switch module for the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; a receiving side output of the second fabric portion or an input device, via the client portion; and a modulator for converting said first electronic signal into a first plurality of optical signals containing the same information; wherein each passive router in the set of passive routers associated with a given sub-array is configured to receive one of the first plurality of optical signals from a modulator on each switch module in that sub-array, and to direct that optical signal to one of its outputs, depending on the wavelength of that optical signal, and the input of the passive router at which it arrives, and wherein the receiving side of the first fabric portion includes; a photodetector configured to receive a second plurality of optical signals from the set of passive routers, and to convert the second plurality of optical signals into a corresponding 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 (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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4. An optoelectronic switch for transferring an optical signal from an input device to an output device, the optoelectronic switch including an array of interconnected switch modules, which are interconnected by an interconnecting fabric, wherein:
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the switch modules are arranged in an N-dimensional array, the ith dimension having a size Ri (i=1, 2, . . . , N), each switch module having an associated set of coordinates giving its location with respect to each of the N dimensions; each switch module is a member of N sub-arrays Si, each sub-array Si comprising; Ri switch modules whose coordinates differ only in respect of their location in the ith dimension, each of the N sub-arrays being associated with a different dimension, and a fabric active switch, having Ri inputs and Ri outputs, configured to direct a signal from any one of the Ri inputs to any one of the Ri outputs depending on destination information contained in the signal; each switch module has; a client portion for connecting to an input device or an output device; a first fabric portion for processing signals and communicating with other switch modules, the first fabric portion having a transmission side and a receiving side, wherein the transmission side of the first fabric portion includes; a transmission side input for receiving a first electronic signal carrying destination information about a destination switch module for the first electronic signal, the first electronic signal received from either; a receiving side output of the first fabric portion or an input device, via the client portion; a modulator 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 signal; a transmission side active switch having an input and N outputs, for receiving the multiplexed fabric signal and directing it to one of the N outputs, the selection of said output based on the destination information, and wherein each of the N outputs is connected to a respective input of the fabric active switch included in each of the N sub-arrays of which that switch module is a member; wherein, each fabric active switch is configured to direct a multiplexed fabric signal which arrives at one of its Ri inputs, from a transmission active switch of a switch module to which it is connected, to one of its Ri outputs, based on destination information contained in the multiplexed fabric signal, and; wherein the receiving side of the first fabric portion includes; a receiving side active switch having N inputs and an output, each of the N inputs configured to receive a multiplexed fabric signal from a respective output of the fabric active switch included in each of the N sub-arrays of which the switch module is a member, and is configured to direct the received multiplexed fabric signal from the input at which it is received to one of its outputs; a receiving side demultiplexer for converting the multiplexed fabric signal into a second plurality of optical signals; a photodetector configured to receive the second plurality of optical signals from the receiving side demultiplexer, and to convert the second plurality of optical signals into a corresponding second electronic signal; and a receiving side output for sending the second electronic signal to either; a transmission side input of the first fabric portion, or an output device, via the client portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification