Industrial-grade photoelectric hybrid switch

Abstract

The invention discloses an industrial-grade photoelectric hybrid switch, which comprises a switch chip, a port physical layer chip-PHY, a POE power supply controller chip-PSE, a photoelectric signal conversion module and a photoelectric hybrid connector, the switch chip is connected with the port physical layer chip-PHY through a high-speed data interface, and the port physical layer chip-PHY is connected with the photoelectric signal conversion module through another high-speed data interface; the photoelectric signal conversion module is connected with the photoelectric hybrid connector; and the POE power supply controller chip-PSE is also connected with the photoelectric hybrid connector so as to realize dual functions of optical signal transmission and POE power supply. According to the invention, optical communication and POE power supply are integrated in one external interface, so that communication is realized and power is supplied to the terminal equipment at the same time. The problems that a traditional POE switch carries out long-distance communication and an optical switch cannot supply power are solved, extra POE interfaces do not need to be added, the switch with intensive interfaces can achieve photoelectric mixing, and the size of the switch and the system failure rate can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of switches, and in particular to an industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch, which integrates optical communication and POE power supply into one external interface, thereby realizing both communication and the ability to power terminal devices. Background Art

[0002] Fiber-optic communication technology, using optical fiber as the transmission medium, offers significant advantages, including high bandwidth, low signal loss, and long transmission distances. Wireless gateways, network cameras, and other devices are often used in environments like equipment rooms and industrial plants, where dedicated power supplies are often lacking. Therefore, these devices are typically powered using Power over Ethernet (POE). POE, also known as LAN power or Active Ethernet, allows for data transmission and DC power to be provided to terminal devices without changing the existing Ethernet cabling architecture.

[0003] Optical-to-electrical hybrid technology uses optical-to-electrical hybrid cables to simultaneously transmit optical signals and power terminal devices. Optical signals are used for communication with remote devices, while copper cables are used to power them. Optical-to-electrical hybrid cables are composed of optical fibers and copper cables, responsible for transmitting optical signals and powering them, respectively.

[0004] Currently, most terminal devices still use copper-based Ethernet communication. Compared with fiber-optic communication, this method has lower bandwidth, higher loss, higher cost, and cannot support long-distance transmission. Switches equipped with optical interfaces usually do not have POE functions, which requires separate power supply for terminal devices at the deployment location. When combining fiber-optic communication and POE power supply technologies, the fiber optic connector responsible for optical communication and the Ethernet connector responsible for POE power supply are incompatible. This means that in addition to the conventional optical module interface to connect to the fiber optic connector, the switch must also be equipped with an additional POE interface to connect to the Ethernet connector in order to obtain power from the optical-electrical hybrid cable. However, adding additional POE Ethernet interfaces not only increases the structural complexity of the device, but may also increase the size of the device, which is particularly difficult to achieve for switches with dense ports.

[0005] The information disclosed in this background technology section is only intended to deepen the understanding of the overall background technology of the present invention and should not be regarded as an admission or any form of suggestion that the information constitutes the prior art already known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: An industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch, comprising a switching chip, a port physical layer chip (PHY), a POE power controller chip (PSE), an optoelectronic signal conversion module, and an optoelectronic hybrid connector; wherein, The switching chip is connected to the port physical layer chip-PHY through a high-speed data interface, and the port physical layer chip-PHY is connected to the photoelectric signal conversion module through another high-speed data interface; the photoelectric signal conversion module is connected to the photoelectric hybrid connector; the POE power controller chip-PSE is also connected to the photoelectric hybrid connector to achieve the dual functions of optical signal transmission and POE power supply.

[0008] Furthermore, the switch is connected to a remote terminal device via an integrated optoelectronic hybrid cable, and the terminal device also uses a matching optoelectronic hybrid connector to receive optical signals and provide power, thereby achieving system communication and power supply integration.

[0009] Furthermore, the photoelectric signal conversion module is composed of a laser and a controller, and adopts a single-fiber bidirectional mode, that is, one wavelength is used for transmission and the other wavelength is used for reception.

[0010] Furthermore, the front end of the optoelectronic hybrid connector adopts a standard optical fiber interface, and the rear end is adapted to the laser.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention provides a novel optoelectronic hybrid switch that integrates optical communication and POE power supply into a single external interface, enabling both communication and power supply for terminal devices. This solves the long-distance communication and power supply limitations of conventional POE switches. Without the need for additional POE interfaces, it enables optoelectronic hybridization even in densely populated switches, reducing switch size and system failure rates. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the field application of the switching equipment and terminal equipment system of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of the internal structure of the switch of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a connection block diagram of the POE power control chip of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a block diagram of the implementation of the photoelectric signal conversion module of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the optoelectronic signal conversion module and optoelectronic hybrid interface of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the installation status of the optoelectronic signal conversion module and the optoelectronic hybrid interface of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 7 The shielding cover is the photoelectric signal conversion module of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the switch device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] The following describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] The present invention provides an innovative optoelectronic hybrid switch device, which not only gives the optical switch the ability to be powered by POE, but also avoids the need to add additional ports, achieves a compact design and high cost-effectiveness of the device, and reduces network construction costs and system failure rates.

[0024] To achieve the above objectives, this plan is specifically implemented as follows: An optoelectronic hybrid switch consists of the following core components: a switching chip, a port physical layer (PHY) chip, a PoE power supply controller chip (PSE), an optoelectronic signal conversion module, and an optoelectronic hybrid connector. The switching chip connects to the physical layer port chip via a high-speed data interface, while the PHY chip connects to the optoelectronic signal conversion module via another high-speed data interface. The optoelectronic signal conversion module connects to the optoelectronic hybrid connector, while the PoE power supply controller chip also connects to the optoelectronic hybrid connector, achieving the dual functions of optical signal transmission and PoE power supply.

[0025] The switch device is connected to the remote terminal device through an integrated optoelectronic hybrid cable. The terminal device also uses a matching optoelectronic hybrid connector to receive optical signals and provide power, thereby realizing the integration of communication and power supply of the system.

[0026] The POE power control chip in the switch is responsible for intelligent management of the power supply to terminal devices, including opening and closing the POE port through software control, detecting the power consumption of the terminal device, and limiting the total power of a single port and all ports.

[0027] The optoelectronic signal conversion module consists of a laser and a controller, utilizing single-fiber bidirectional technology, with one wavelength used for transmission and another for reception. In the terminal device, the lasers operate at opposite wavelengths, enabling bidirectional communication over a single optical fiber. The controller converts the electrical signal into a signal to drive the laser and provides transmit power adjustment and receive power detection to accommodate varying transmission distances. The controller also monitors module parameters such as voltage, current, and temperature to ensure stable operation. The conversion module utilizes a standardized interface, supporting the reading of module information via a universal serial port.

[0028] The front end of the optoelectronic hybrid connector uses a standard fiber optic interface, while the back end is compatible with the laser. Structurally, the connector adds two power supply metal springs, whose solder pins are connected to the circuit board. The POE controller connects to these two springs to achieve POE power. Terminal devices use the same optoelectronic hybrid connector, enabling communication and power supply via a single optoelectronic hybrid cable (consisting of a single-core fiber and two power cords). Because optical communication uses a standard fiber optic interface, in scenarios where POE power is not required, commercially available universal fiber optic connectors can be used for optical communication.

[0029] Figure 1 The on-site application of switching equipment and terminal equipment systems is shown. The new optoelectronic hybrid switch uses a single optoelectronic hybrid cable to achieve optical signal communication and power supply for terminal equipment. Figure 2The internal block diagram of the switch is shown. The switching chip is connected to the physical port PHY chip via a high-speed communication interface, and then to the optoelectronic signal conversion module through the physical port PHY chip. The optoelectronic signal conversion module is connected to the optoelectronic hybrid connector. The port of the POE power controller is also connected to the optoelectronic hybrid connector. The optoelectronic hybrid connector is connected to the terminal device through the front panel of the switch and connected to the terminal device via an optoelectronic hybrid cable. The switching chip controls and monitors the optoelectronic conversion module via a serial communication bus, adjusting the transmit power and receive power detection of the laser within the module to automatically adapt to different distances. At the same time, the voltage, current, temperature and other parameters of the entire module are monitored to ensure the stable operation of the module. The switching chip also controls the POE power controller via the serial communication bus interface to turn the power of the terminal device on and off and adjust the output power of the POE port.

[0030] Figure 3 The connection block diagram of the POE power control chip is shown, and the POE power control chip is directly connected to the power supply pin of the optoelectronic hybrid connector.

[0031] Figure 4 The implementation block diagram of the optoelectronic signal conversion module is shown. The receive and transmit pins derived from the physical port chip are connected to the optoelectronic signal conversion module. When the switch needs to transmit data, the physical port chip sends an electrical signal to the optoelectronic signal converter laser driver. The laser driver then transmits the data information carrier to the laser's light-emitting diode (LED) and transmits it through a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). Upon receiving an optical signal from the outside, the WDM separates the carrier optical signal at the receiving wavelength. This optical signal is then converted to an electrical signal by a transimpedance amplifier (TIA). The electrical signal is then amplified and amplified by a limiting amplifier and output to the physical port chip. The switch chip connects to the optoelectronic signal conversion module's digital diagnostic and monitoring interface via a serial interface. The module's digital-to-analog conversion circuitry controls the laser driver, laser diode, and trans-group amplifier, enabling control and monitoring of the optoelectronic conversion module's input and output power.

[0032] Figure 5 and 6 The diagram shows the structure and installation of the optoelectronic signal conversion module and optoelectronic hybrid interface. The optoelectronic conversion signal controller and laser are located on a separate circuit board, connected to the mainboard via a connector. This approach enables modular production of switch components and allows for independent debugging of individual optoelectronic signal conversion modules, making module usage more flexible and facilitating subsequent maintenance. The optoelectronic hybrid interface, which includes the laser mounting connector and POE power supply contacts, is also mounted on the main control circuit board. The POE power supply contacts are connected to the POE power controller port via circuit board traces.

[0033] The switch device uses an integrated optical-electrical hybrid interface that can be directly connected to the device panel. No additional structure is required and it can be used for switch devices with dense port density.

[0034] Figure 7 The design shows the shielding case for the optoelectronic signal conversion module. Due to the module's high heat generation and electromagnetic interference noise, a shielding case is designed to dissipate heat and provide electromagnetic shielding. The main body of the shielding case surrounds the module and is soldered to the main control circuit board. Thermally conductive silicone is placed over the module's heat-generating chip, and the cover of the shielding case is snapped onto the main body, simultaneously pressing down on the heat sink.

[0035] Figure 8 This diagram shows the structure of a switch device. It uses an integrated optical-electrical hybrid interface that can be directly connected to the device panel. It does not require additional structure and can be used in switch devices with dense port density.

[0036] This invention proposes an innovative industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch device and its implementation method. This method integrates Power over Ethernet (POE) power supply and fiber-optic communication technology into a single interface, achieving optimized device and space integration. This design significantly reduces the number of devices required and the space occupied, thereby lowering the economic costs of installation and maintenance.

[0037] The use of single-fiber optical-electrical hybrid cables not only simplifies the system's wiring requirements, but also simplifies the network management process. Users only need to manage a single switch port, without having to configure PoE power supply and optical fiber transmission separately, which greatly reduces management complexity.

[0038] In addition, because POE power supply and fiber optic transmission functions are integrated into the same interface, the number of system nodes is reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of failure and enhancing network reliability. At the same time, fiber optic transmission technology also provides higher data transmission rates and longer transmission distances, further improving network performance.

[0039] In summary, the optoelectronic hybrid switch device and implementation method thereof of the present invention provide an efficient, economical and reliable network solution for the industrial field.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch, characterized in that: The switch includes a switching chip, a port physical layer chip-PHY, a POE power supply controller chip-PSE, an optical-electrical signal conversion module and an optical-electrical hybrid connector; wherein, The switching chip is connected to the port physical layer chip-PHY through a high-speed data interface, and the port physical layer chip-PHY is connected to the photoelectric signal conversion module through another high-speed data interface; the photoelectric signal conversion module is connected to the photoelectric hybrid connector; the POE power supply controller chip-PSE is also connected to the photoelectric hybrid connector to realize the dual functions of optical signal transmission and POE power supply.

2. The industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switch is connected to a remote terminal device via an integrated optoelectronic hybrid cable, and the terminal device also uses a matching optoelectronic hybrid connector to receive optical signals and provide power, thereby achieving system communication and power supply integration.

3. The industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The photoelectric signal conversion module is composed of a laser and a controller, and adopts a single-fiber bidirectional mode, that is, one wavelength is used for transmission and the other wavelength is used for reception.

4. The industrial-grade optoelectronic hybrid switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the optoelectronic hybrid connector adopts a standard optical fiber interface, and the rear end is adapted to the laser.

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