An N×N array optical switch structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses an N×N array optical switch structure, which relates to the fields of optical communication technology and optical sensing technology, including an input unit, a forwarding unit and an output unit; the output unit is divided into M groups, and the number of 1×M optical switches in each group is N / M; the forwarding unit is divided into M groups, and the number of N / M×N / M optical switch arrays in each group is M; the N×M output ports of the input unit are respectively connected to the N×M input ports of the forwarding unit; the N / M output ports of the jth N / M×N / M optical switch array of the i-th group of the forwarding unit are respectively connected to the i-th input port of the 1×M optical switch of the j-th group of the output unit, wherein i∈[1, M], j∈[1, N / M]. The present invention replaces the direct connection of the left and right parts in the existing array optical switch structure with an M×M forwarding N / M×N / M optical switch array, thereby realizing the decoupling of the functions of the three parts of input, forwarding and output.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical communication technology and optical sensing technology, and in particular to an N×N array optical switch structure. Background Art

[0002] In optical communication and optical sensing systems, multiple devices need to transmit information to achieve collaborative work. The conventional method is to use an electrical switch, each of which includes multiple optical modules, which are connected to each device. The information exchanged between devices must first be transmitted to the switch, and then undergo the photoelectric conversion of the optical module, the information routing of the electrical switching chip, and then the electro-optical conversion of the optical module, and finally transmitted to the target device. The whole process undergoes multiple photoelectric conversions, and each conversion will bring very large power consumption overhead and increase data latency. At the same time, due to the sharp increase in the amount of network data, the switching equipment needs to be upgraded every two or three years, which also brings huge cost overhead. Changing the electrical switch to an array optical switch and realizing information forwarding between devices on the optical path not only saves a lot of equipment costs, but also saves a lot of energy consumption by eliminating multiple conversions between electrical signals and optical signals.

[0003] Figure 1 It is an existing N×N array optical switch structure, which includes N rows and N columns, and there is an optical switch unit at the intersection of each row and each column. When selecting an output channel for an input signal, it is only necessary to turn on the optical switch unit at the intersection of the input row and the output column. The disadvantage of this structure is that different paths pass through different numbers of switch units. For example, the path from input 1 to output N passes through 2×N-1 switch units, and the path from input N to output 1 passes through only 1 switch unit. Therefore, the loss uniformity between channels is poor, and the maximum loss increases linearly with the increase of N, resulting in a large overall loss.

[0004] Figure 2 It is another existing N×N array optical switch structure, which consists of two parts, left and right, both of which are composed of N 1×N optical switches, and each 1×N optical switch on the left is connected to the N optical switches on the right. In this structure, the number of switch units passing through each input→output path is fixed, so the loss uniformity between channels is good, the maximum loss increases logarithmically with the increase of N, and the overall loss is small. The disadvantage of this structure is that it requires a large number of switch units, almost twice that of the first one. At the same time, both structures cannot be expanded, and the switch units in the structure are tightly coupled, that is, the N×N optical switch of a large channel cannot be formed by a combination of N×N optical switches of a small channel. Each specification of the product must be designed separately, which makes the product development cycle long and the development cost high. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides an N×N array optical switch structure, which solves the problem that the switch units in the existing N×N array optical switch structure are in a tightly coupled state, that is, a large-channel N×N optical switch cannot be formed by combining small-channel N×N optical switches, and each specification of the product must be designed separately, resulting in a long development cycle and high development cost.

[0006] The present invention provides an N×N array optical switch structure, comprising N input units arranged vertically, M 2 forwarding units and N output units; wherein the input unit and the output unit are both 1×M optical switches, the forwarding unit is an N / M×N / M optical switch, and M <N;

[0007] M 2 The forwarding units are divided into M groups of forwarding modules according to the arrangement order, and each group of forwarding modules includes M forwarding units;

[0008] The N output units are divided into M groups of output modules according to the arrangement order, and each group of output modules includes N / M output units;

[0009] The N×M output ports of the N input units are respectively connected to the M 2 The N×M input ports of the jth forwarding unit of the i-th group of forwarding modules are connected; the N / M output ports of the jth forwarding unit of the i-th group of forwarding modules are connected to the i-th input port of the j-th group of output modules, respectively, where i∈[1,M], j∈[1,N / M];

[0010] The order of the N input units is 1, 2...N / M, N / M+1...2N / M...NN / M+1...N, and the N input units are sequentially divided into M groups of input modules, each group of input modules includes N / M input units; the first group of input modules includes input units 1 to input units N / M, the second group of input modules includes input units N / M+1 to input units 2N / M, and so on, the Mth group of input modules includes input units NN / M+1 to input unit N;

[0011] The M output ports of the jth input unit of the i-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules;

[0012] The M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in input unit 1 are respectively connected to the first input port of the first group of forwarding units; the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in input unit 2 are respectively connected to the second input port of the first group of forwarding units; and so on, the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in input unit N / M are respectively connected to the last input port of the first group of forwarding units; the connection method between the remaining input units and the forwarding units is the same as the connection method between the first group of input units and the first group of forwarding units.

[0013] Preferably, the order of the N output units is 1, 2...N / M, N / M+1...2N / M...NN / M+1...N, the first group of output modules includes output unit 1 to output unit N / M, the second group of output modules includes output unit N / M+1 to output unit 2N / M, and so on, the Mth group of output modules includes output unit NN / M+1 to output unit N.

[0014] Preferably, M 2 The order of the forwarding units is 1, 2…M, M+1…2M…(M-1)×M+1…M×M. The first group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units 1 to forwarding units M, the second group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units M+1 to forwarding units 2M, and so on. The Mth group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units (M-1)×M+1 to forwarding units M×M.

[0015] Preferably, the order of the N input units is 1, 2...M, M+1...2M...N-M+1...N, and the N input units are divided into N / M groups of input modules in order, and each group of input modules includes M input units; the first group of input modules includes input units 1 to input units M, the second group of input modules includes input units M+1 to input units 2M, and so on, the Mth group of input modules includes input units N-M+1 to input units N;

[0016] The M output ports of the i-th input unit of the j-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The N×N optical switch array structure of the present invention uses M×M forwarding N / M×N / M optical switch arrays to replace the direct connection between the left and right parts in the existing optical switch array structure, and realizes the decoupling of the input, forwarding and output functions. The N×N optical switch with a large channel can be decomposed into the N / M×N / M optical switch with a small channel. Through the research and development of the optical switch array with a small channel, it can be easily expanded to the optical switch array product with a large channel, thereby reducing the product development cycle and development cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0020] Figure 1Schematic diagram of an existing array optical switch;

[0021] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of another existing array optical switch structure;

[0022] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the N×N array optical switch structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the N×N array optical switch structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0024] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0025] An N×N array optical switch structure includes N input units arranged longitudinally, M 2 forwarding units, and N output units. Among them, the input units are located on the left, the forwarding units are located in the middle, and the output units are located on the right. The input units and the output units are both 1×M optical switches, and the forwarding units are N / M×N / M optical switches, and M < N; the N longitudinal input units and the N output units are symmetrically arranged with respect to M 2 forwarding units.

[0026] M 2 forwarding units are divided into M groups of forwarding modules in the arranged order, and each group of forwarding modules includes M forwarding units. The N output units are divided into M groups of output modules in the arranged order, and each group of output modules includes N / M output units.

[0027] The order of the N output units is 1, 2... N / M, N / M + 1... 2N / M... N / M + 1... N. The first group of output modules includes output units 1 to output unit N / M, the second group of output modules includes output units N / M + 1 to output unit 2N / M, and so on. The Mth group of output modules includes output units N - N / M + 1 to output unit N.

[0028] M 2 forwarding units are in the order of 1, 2... M, M + 1... 2M... (M - 1)×M + 1... M×M. The first group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units 1 to forwarding unit M, the second group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units M + 1 to forwarding unit 2M, and so on. The Mth group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units (M - 1)×M + 1 to forwarding unit M×M.

[0029] The N×M output ports of the N input units are connected to the M 2 The N×M input ports of the jth forwarding unit of the i-th group of forwarding modules are connected to the i-th input port of the j-th group of output modules, where i∈[1,M], j∈[1,N / M].

[0030] Example 1

[0031] The order of the input units is 1, 2...N / M, N / M+1...2N / M...NN / M+1...N, and the N input units are divided into M groups of input modules in order, and each group of input modules includes N / M input units; the first group of input modules includes input unit 1 to input unit N / M, the second group of input modules includes input unit N / M+1 to input unit 2N / M, and so on. The Mth group of input modules includes input unit NN / M+1 to input unit N.

[0032] The M output ports of the j-th input unit of the i-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules.

[0033] Reference Figure 3, the connection mode between the left input unit and the middle forwarding unit of the N×N array optical switch structure is as follows: the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit 1 are respectively connected to the first input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #1 to #M. The M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit 2 are respectively connected to the second input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #1 to #M. Similarly, the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit N / M are respectively connected to the last input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #1 to #M. The left input unit 1 to input unit N / M are the first group of input ends, which include N / M 1×M optical switches. The middle optical switches #1 to #M are the first group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches. All output ports of the first group of input ends are respectively connected to all input ports of the first forwarding group. The connection method of the remaining input parts on the left and the middle forwarding parts is the same as the first group mentioned above. Input unit N / M+1 to input unit 2×N / M are the second group, which includes N / M 1×M optical switches. The middle optical switches #M+1 to #2×M are the second group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches. All output ports of the second group of input ends are respectively connected to all input ports of the second group of forwarding. Similarly, input unit NN / M+1 to input unit N on the left are the Mth group, which includes N / M 1×M optical switches. The middle optical switches #(M-1)×M+1 to #M×M are the Mth group of forwarding, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches. All output ports of the Mth group of input ends are respectively connected to all input ports of the Mth group of forwarding.

[0034] The connection mode of the middle forwarding unit and the right output unit is as follows: the N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #1 are respectively connected to the first input ports of the 1×M optical switches in the right output unit 1 to output unit N / M. The N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #2 are respectively connected to the first input ports of the 1×M optical switches in the right output unit N / M+1 to output unit 2×N / M. Similarly, the N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #M are respectively connected to the first input ports of the 1×M optical switches in the right output unit NN / M+1 to output unit N. The middle optical switches #1 to #M are the first group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are respectively connected to the first input ports of the 1×M optical switches in the right output unit 1 to output unit N. The middle #M+1~#2×M optical switches are the second group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are connected to the second input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output port N. Similarly, the middle #(M-1)×M+1~#M×M optical switches are the Mth group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are connected to the Mth input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output unit N.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] The order of the input units is 1, 2...M, M+1...2M...N-M+1...N, and the N input units are divided into N / M groups of input modules in order, and each group of input modules includes M input units. The first group of input modules includes input units 1 to input units M, the second group of input modules includes input units M+1 to input units 2M, and so on, the Mth group of input modules includes input units N-M+1 to input units N.

[0037] The M output ports of the i-th input unit of the j-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules.

[0038] Reference Figure 4, the connection mode between the left input unit and the middle forwarding unit of the N×N array optical switch structure is as follows: the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit 1 are respectively connected to the first input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #1 to #M. The M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit 2 are respectively connected to the first input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #M+1 to #2×M. Similarly, the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the left input unit M are respectively connected to the first input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #(M-1)×M+1 to #M×M. The left input units 1 to M are the first group of input ends, which include M 1×M optical switches. All output ports of the first group of input ends are respectively connected to the first input port of the middle N / M×N / M optical switches #1 to #M×M. The connection mode of the remaining input parts on the left side and the middle forwarding part is similar to the first group mentioned above. Input port M+1 to input port 2×M is the second group, which includes M 1×M optical switches. All output ports of the second group of the input end are respectively connected to the second input port of the middle #1 to #M×M N / M×N / M optical switches. Similarly, the input unit N-M+1 to input unit N on the left side is the N / Mth group, which includes M 1×M optical switches. All output ports of the N / Mth group of the input end are respectively connected to the N / Mth input port of the middle #1 to #M×M N / M×N / M optical switches.

[0039] The connection mode of the middle forwarding unit and the right output unit is as follows: the N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #1 are respectively connected to the first input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output unit N / M. The N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #2 are respectively connected to the first input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit N / M+1 to output unit 2×N / M. Similarly, the N / M output ports of the middle N / M×N / M optical switch #M are respectively connected to the first input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit NN / M+1 to output port N. The middle optical switches #1 to #M are the first group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are respectively connected to the first input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output unit N. The middle #M+1~#2×M optical switches are the second group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are respectively connected to the second input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output unit N. Similarly, the middle #(M-1)×M+1~#M×M optical switches are the Mth group of forwarding units, which include M N / M×N / M optical switches, and all their output ports are respectively connected to the Mth input port of the 1×M optical switch in the right output unit 1 to output unit N.

[0040] The connection principle between the input unit, forwarding unit, and output unit is as follows Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the specific connection method is not limited to optical fiber, waveguide, free space, and their combination. Each unit can also be implemented with different solutions, including but not limited to planar optical waveguide chips, spatial optical devices, MEMS chips, etc. Each unit can be a separate individual, or it can contain multiple units within an individual, or it can contain one unit in different individuals.

[0041] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art may make other changes and modifications to these embodiments once they have learned the basic creative concept. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0042] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An N×N array optical switch structure, characterized in that: It includes N input units arranged vertically, M 2 forwarding units and N output units; wherein the input unit and the output unit are both 1×M optical switches, the forwarding unit is an N / M×N / M optical switch, and M <N; M 2 The forwarding units are divided into M groups of forwarding modules according to the arrangement order, and each group of forwarding modules includes M forwarding units; The N output units are divided into M groups of output modules according to the arrangement order, and each group of output modules includes N / M output units; The N×M output ports of the N input units are respectively connected to the M 2 The N×M input ports of the jth forwarding unit of the i-th group of forwarding modules are connected; the N / M output ports of the jth forwarding unit of the i-th group of forwarding modules are connected to the i-th input port of the j-th group of output modules, respectively, where i∈[1,M], j∈[1,N / M]; The order of the N input units is 1, 2...N / M, N / M+1...2N / M...NN / M+1...N, and the N input units are sequentially divided into M groups of input modules, each group of input modules includes N / M input units; the first group of input modules includes input units 1 to input units N / M, the second group of input modules includes input units N / M+1 to input units 2N / M, and so on, the Mth group of input modules includes input units NN / M+1 to input unit N; The M output ports of the jth input unit of the i-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules; The M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the input unit 1 are respectively connected to the first input port of the first group of forwarding units; The M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the input unit 2 are respectively connected to the second input ports of the first group of forwarding units; Similarly, the M output ports of the 1×M optical switch in the input unit N / M are respectively connected to the last input port of the first group of forwarding units; the connection mode between the remaining input units and the forwarding units is the same as the connection mode between the first group of input units and the first group of forwarding units.

2. The N×N array optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The order of the N output units is 1, 2...N / M, N / M+1...2N / M...NN / M+1...N, the first group of output modules includes output unit 1 to output unit N / M, the second group of output modules includes output unit N / M+1 to output unit 2N / M, and so on, the Mth group of output modules includes output unit NN / M+1 to output unit N.

3. The N×N array optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: M 2 The order of the forwarding units is 1, 2…M, M+1…2M…(M-1)×M+1…M×M. The first group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units 1 to forwarding units M, the second group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units M+1 to forwarding units 2M, and so on. The Mth group of forwarding modules includes forwarding units (M-1)×M+1 to forwarding units M×M.

4. The N×N array optical switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The order of the N input units is 1, 2...M, M+1...2M...N-M+1...N, and the N input units are divided into N / M groups of input modules in order, and each group of input modules includes M input units; the first group of input modules includes input units 1 to input units M, the second group of input modules includes input units M+1 to input units 2M, and so on, the Mth group of input modules includes input units N-M+1 to input units N; The M output ports of the i-th input unit of the j-th group of input modules are respectively connected to the j-th input ports of the M forwarding units in the i-th group of forwarding modules.

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