62 results about "Optical backplane" patented technology

A switching apparatus is disclosed that employs a relatively simple and inexpensive switching matrix, but which avoids interruption of existing connections when connections are added or removed. The switching matrix switches errorlessly by controlling the point in time at which switching occurs. Using such a technique, switching can be performed without disturbing the connections already configured in the switching matrix, and so is referred to herein as being non-blocking. Optionally, the incoming data can be rearranged to provide a larger window of time in which the switching matrix can be switched. In the case of a switch using an optical backplane, this also allows more time for various components of the system (e.g., clock / data recovery units) to re-acquire lock. The switching apparatus includes a switching matrix and control circuitry. The switching matrix has a matrix input, a control input and a number of matrix outputs, and is configured to receive an information stream at the matrix input. The information stream includes a number of portions, while the control circuitry has a control output coupled to the control input. The control circuitry is configured to initially configure the switching matrix to output the information stream at a one of the matrix outputs and to subsequently configure the switching matrix to output the information stream at another of the matrix outputs during a period of time during which the one of the portions is transiting the switching matrix.

An optical backplane includes an optical connector which receives juxtaposed optical signals transmitted in nonparallel to the main surface of a circuit substrate from the circuit substrate or transmits juxtaposed optical signals in nonparallel to the main surface of the circuit substrate to the circuit substrate. The optical connector disposes and accommodates edge portions of a plurality of optical fibers and the disposing direction of the optical fibers in the optical connector is in nonparallel to the main surface of the circuit substrate.

A high-speed, high-power modular router is disclosed. As opposed to conventional designs using optical backplane signaling and / or bus bars for power distribution, the disclosed embodiments combine high-power, low-noise power distribution with high-speed signal routing in a common backplane. Disclosed backplane features allow backplane signaling at 2.5 Gbps or greater on electrical differential pairs distributed on multiple high-speed signaling layers. Relatively thick power distribution layers are embedded within the backplane, shielded from the high-speed signaling layers by digital ground layers and other shielding features. A router using such a backplane provides a level of performance and economy that is believed to be unattainable by the prior art.

An optical interconnect system includes a plurality of optical circuit boards coupled to an optical backplane. An optical transmitter may be implemented with some or all of the plurality of optical circuit boards. Each optical transmitter is configured to transmit a multi-wavelength light signal. Each of a plurality of optical receivers are separately associated with the plurality of optical circuit boards. In accordance with one embodiment, one or more demultiplexing devices may be used to demultiplex multi-wavelength light signals to discrete wavelengths.

An optical backplane system is provided. The optical backplane system includes at least one transceiver, at least one optical connector, and a plurality of multimode optical fibers coupled to the at least one optical connector. Each multimode optical fiber includes a graded index glass core having a diameter in the range of 24 microns to 40 microns, a graded index having an alpha less than 2.12 and a maximum relative refractive index in the range between 0.6 percent and 1.9 percent. The optical backplane further includes a cladding surrounding and in contact with the core. The cladding includes a depressed-index annular portion. The fiber has an overfilled bandwidth greater than 2.0 GHz-km at 1310 nm.

Information processing equipment includes a photoelectric conversion module disposed on a circuit substrate, a first optical connector connected to the photoelectric conversion module through a plurality of first optical fibers and disposed to an edge portion of the circuit substrate, and a second optical connector disposed on an optical backplane and optically connected to the first optical connector. The disposing direction of the optical fibers in the photoelectric conversion module is in nonparallel with the main surface of the circuit substrate and the disposing direction of the optical fibers in the first optical connector and the disposing direction of the optical fibers in the second optical connector are in nonparallel with the main surface of the circuit substrate.

A system and method are disclosed for an optical backplane in an electronic processor that comprises of a plurality of processing units. The backplane is comprising of a network of optical waveguides which can guide polarized light. Furthermore, the backplane has magneto optic routers for steering light at the vertexes of the network, and the backplane also has optical devices for operationally connecting the processing units to the network. The backplane network affords an optical interconnection amongst all of the processing units.

The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable data communications system. The system includes a removable optical backplane connector with a first end and a second end, a first data communications card, and a switch fabric card. The first data communications card includes an optical port configured to receive the first end of the removable optical backplane connector. The switch fabric card has a plurality of optical ports adapted to receive the second end of the removable optical backplane connector.

A coupler assembly for an optical backplane system having a backplane and two or more circuit packs connected to that backplane. Each circuit pack has an optical transceiver and the backplane has an optical pipe (e.g., an array of waveguides) adapted to guide optical signals between the transceivers of different circuit packs. A coupler assembly is provided for each transceiver to couple light between that transceiver and the optical pipe. Advantageously, the coupler assembly has a movable optical element that can accommodate possible misalignment between the backplane and the circuit pack. In one embodiment, the movable optical element is an array of MEMS mirrors, each mirror adapted to direct light between an optical transmitter or receiver and the corresponding waveguide of the optical pipe. In another embodiment, the movable optical element is an array of flexible optical fibers, each coupled between an optical transmitter or receiver and the corresponding waveguide of the optical pipe and having an angled surface adapted to couple light between said fiber and waveguide.

A byte-wide optical switch and switching method are provided. The optical switch includes a first set of ports for receiving in parallel an optical byte of data, and multiple second sets of ports each capable of outputting in parallel the optical byte of data. An array of optical switching elements is disposed between the first set of ports and the multiple second sets of ports. The array of optical switching elements direct the optical byte of data in parallel from the first set of ports to at least one second set of ports of the multiple second sets of ports. The switching elements may comprise micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices, each having a position controllable reflective surface. Thin film optical filters can be provided on the reflective surfaces for wavelength selective switching.

Information processing equipment includes a photoelectric conversion module disposed on a circuit substrate, a first optical connector connected to the photoelectric conversion module through a plurality of first optical fibers and disposed to an edge portion of the circuit substrate, and a second optical connector disposed on an optical backplane and optically connected to the first optical connector. The disposing direction of the optical fibers in the photoelectric conversion module is in nonparallel with the main surface of the circuit substrate and the disposing direction of the optical fibers in the first optical connector and the disposing direction of the optical fibers in the second optical connector are in nonparallel with the main surface of the circuit substrate.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical backplane interconnection system and a communication device. The optical backplane interconnection system includes a backplane, a front board, a rear board and a connector. The front board and the rear board locate on two sides of the backplane and are orthogonal to each other. The front board and the rear board are both disposed with an optical waveguide path which is interconnected through a connector connected to the backplane to form an optical path, so that optical signals can be transmitted through the optical path.

The invention provides an optical backplane sub-frame device and relates to the field of communication. The device comprises one layer or more layers of sub-frames and P optical backplanes. Each layer of sub-frame comprises M switching cards and L line cards. Each switching card comprises one or more optical connectors or optical connectors and electric connectors. Each line card comprises one or more optical connectors or optical connectors and electric connectors. Two sides of each optical backplane comprise one or more optical connectors. The M switching cards of each layer are connected with all line cards of different layers through the optical connectors on the P optical backplanes, so at least one optical connection channel is arranged between all optical connectors corresponding to the line cards and all optical connectors corresponding to the switching cards located on different layers of sub-frames. The optical signal connection convenience is improved.

An optical backplane system is described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary system includes a backplane to interconnect multiple optical modules, multiple fiber interface modules (FIMs) having a back end inserted into multiple slots of the backplane respectively, each FIM having a front end to receive an incoming fiber carrying incoming optical signals and an outgoing fiber carrying outgoing optical signals from and to an optical network. The back end of the FIM extends the incoming and outgoing fibers to at least one of the multiple optical modules mounted via the backplane without significantly processing of the incoming and outgoing optical signals. Each of the fibers is capable of carrying multiple wavelengths of optical signals. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

A ferrule-less optical backplane connector assembly includes a substrate having at least a pair of optical guide receiving structures formed therein, the pair of optical guide receiving structures further being formed at substantially a right angle with respect to one another so as to guide a corresponding first and second optical guide into optical alignment with one another.

The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable data communications system. The system includes a removable optical backplane connector with a first end and a second end, a first data communications card, and a switch fabric card. The first data communications card includes an optical port configured to receive the first end of the removable optical backplane connector. The switch fabric card has a plurality of optical ports adapted to receive the second end of the removable optical backplane connector.

An optical backplane connector with a board removable (being possible to insert and remove) therein in the direction perpendicular to the backplane plate surface is arranged on a backplane having optical transmission paths. The optical backplane connector accommodates a photoelectric conversion module in such a manner the incident and exit light are perpendicular to the backplane and a transparent board with a photoelectric conversion element mounted thereon is perpendicular to the board and parallel to the backplane. The conduction between the electric contacts of the photoelectric conversion module and the inner electric contacts of the optical backplane connector is held by mechanical contact. At the end portion of the optical transmission path on the backplane, an optical connector having a 45′ mirror and guide pins is mounted. The positioning operation is achieved by fitting the guide pins of the optical connector with the guide holes of the photoelectric conversion module.

Polymers of differing refraction indices are embedded within a PCB to provide optical connectivity of the PCB with other circuit boards via an optic backplane. The creation of islands of polymer material of refractive index n1 completely surrounded by polymer material with refractive index n2 where n1 has a higher index than n2 allows the islands of n1 indexed polymer to serve as optical waveguides. A process of forming a multi-layered PCB with the optical waveguide islands using successive laminations and using laser ablation to write the optical connection scheme is taught. Further, the use of uniquely marked targets in a copper layer to align the optical waveguides in production is also taught. Additionally, the use of clearing polymer materials and reinforcing polymer voids with lamination to allow a simple, high tolerance insertion of through-holes is taught.

A coupler assembly for an optical backplane system having a backplane and two or more circuit packs connected to that backplane. Each circuit pack has an optical transceiver and the backplane has an optical pipe (e.g., an array of waveguides) adapted to guide optical signals between the transceivers of different circuit packs. A coupler assembly is provided for each transceiver to couple light between that transceiver and the optical pipe. Advantageously, the coupler assembly has a movable optical element that can accommodate possible misalignment between the backplane and the circuit pack. In one embodiment, the movable optical element is an array of MEMS mirrors, each mirror adapted to direct light between an optical transmitter or receiver and the corresponding waveguide of the optical pipe. In another embodiment, the movable optical element is an array of flexible optical fibers, each coupled between an optical transmitter or receiver and the corresponding waveguide of the optical pipe and having an angled surface adapted to couple light between said fiber and waveguide.

A functional optical device for use in an optical backplane system is provided that includes one or more input fibers, one or more output fibers, and a functional portion configured to operate on an optical input received via the one or more input fibers to provide an optical output via the one or more output fibers. The one or more input fibers and the one or more output fibers of the functional optical device are terminated in a fixed configuration based on a fixed termination layout of at least one group of multiple fibers of an optical backplane interconnect.

There is described a line card rack assembly for line cards, and an optical backplane and optical fiber guide for installation to a frame adapted to receive line cards of which at least one has an optical connector at a front portion thereof. The rack assembly comprises a frame having a front opening, for receiving the line cards and providing access to a front end of the line cards, and a back opening opposite the front opening; an optical backplane at least partially covering the back opening, the optical backplane comprising connections for connecting the line cards upon insertion in the frame; and optical fiber cable having two ends, a first one of the two ends being for coupling to the optical backplane, and a second one of the two ends for coupling to the optical connector of the at least one of the line cards.

An optical transmission device comprises an optical transmission medium and a plurality of optical receivers, and the optical transmission medium has a linear line waveguide. At least one of the optical receivers is adapted to receive a first optical signal propagated through the line waveguide, while at least one of the optical receivers is adapted to receive a second optical signal propagated through the optical transmission medium.

Optical backplanes providing integrated optical couplers to external optical fibers are disclosed, along with methods for making the same. An exemplary optical backplane has a first cladding layer disposed over the top surface of a substrate, and at least a first core body disposed over the first cladding layer, with the first core body having a first end and a second end. A material layer is disposed above the first cladding layer and the first end of the first core body, with the material layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A focusing element is formed at the top surface of the material layer, with the focusing element being located above the first end of the first core body.

An optical backplane system is described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary system includes a backplane to interconnect multiple optical modules, multiple fiber interface modules (FIMs) having a back end inserted into multiple slots of the backplane respectively, each FIM having a front end to receive an incoming fiber carrying incoming optical signals and an outgoing fiber carrying outgoing optical signals from and to an optical network. The back end of the FIM extends the incoming and outgoing fibers to at least one of the multiple optical modules mounted via the backplane without significantly processing of the incoming and outgoing optical signals. Each of the fibers is capable of carrying multiple wavelengths of optical signals. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

An optical backplane connector (6) with a board (1), detachable in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the backplane, that is, capable of insertion and removal, and arranged on a backplane (12) with an optical transmission path (17) )superior. The optical backplane connector (6) accommodates the photoelectric conversion module (14) in such a way that the incident and outgoing light is perpendicular to the backplane (12), and the transparent plate (15) on which the photoelectric conversion element (7) is installed is perpendicular to the plate (1) and parallel to the back plate (12). Conduction between the electrical contact (13) of the photoelectric conversion module (14) and the internal electrical contact (5) of the optical backplane connector (6) is maintained by mechanical contact. At the end of the optical transmission path (17) on the backplane (12), an optical connector (10) with a 45° mirror (16) and guide pins (9) is installed. The positioning operation is realized by fitting the guide pin (9) of the optical connector (10) into the guide hole (8) of the photoelectric conversion module (14).

The invention discloses an optical backplane interconnection system, and relates to the technical field of communication equipment. The system includes: a sub frame, wherein at least one electrical backplane is fixed on the sub frame; an optical backplane, wherein the optical backplane is fixed on the sub frame and fixed on one side of the electrical backplane. The optical backplane is internallyprovided with an optical fiber; a fiber clamp, wherein the fiber clamp is fixed on the sub frame and is arranged on one side of the electrical backplane, far away from the optical backplane. The fiberclamp is butted with the optical backplane through the electrical backplane; an optical exchange clamp, wherein the optical exchange clamp is fixed on the sub frame and arranged on one side of the electrical backplane, far from the optical backplane. The optical exchange clamp is butted with the optical backplane through the electrical backplane. The optical exchange clamp, the fiber clamp and the optical backplane form an optical path through the electrical backplane. The optical backplane interconnection system is low in cost and low in loss and is not easily to be disturbed.

The invention discloses an optical backboard system, a switching system and an upgrading method of the switching system. The optical backboard system comprises a first pre-stage optical interconnection module, a first post-stage optical interconnection module and a second post-stage optical interconnection module. Wherein the first pre-stage optical interconnection module comprises M1 first interfaces and N1 second interfaces which have a connection relationship; The first post-stage optical interconnection module comprises L1 third interfaces and K1 fourth interfaces which have a connection relationship; The second post-stage optical interconnection module comprises L2 third interfaces and K2 fourth interfaces which have a connection relationship; The first pre-stage optical interconnection module is connected with one of L1 third interfaces of the first post-stage optical interconnection module through one of N1 second interfaces; The first pre-stage optical interconnection module isconnected with one of the L2 third interfaces of the second post-stage optical interconnection module through the other second interface of the N1 second interfaces; The first interface and the fourth interface are used for being connected with a processing module, and M1, N1, K1, K2, L1 and L2 are all larger than 1.