Blind Mating Optical Interface for Chassis Line Card Serviceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing management of optical fibers in chassis-based network systems is time-consuming and error-prone, especially when dealing with individually connected fibers, as disconnecting each fiber is necessary to remove a line card, and bundling fibers into ribbon cables prevents individual disconnection.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a blind mating optical interface at the back of the line card connected to an optical transceiver interface accessible from the front, allowing the line card to be removed without disconnecting the optical fiber from the transceiver interface, using an optical signal path that includes an optical fiber connected between the blind mating interfaces of the line card and chassis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If optical fibers are individually connected to the front panel of a line card, then each fiber can be individually disconnected, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone when removing a line card
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connection system is segmented into two distinct interfaces: a blind mating optical interface at the back of the line card for permanent chassis connection, and a transceiver interface at the front for removable fiber connections. This segmentation allows the line card to be removed from the chassis without disconnecting the optical fiber, as the fiber remains connected to the transceiver interface while the line card detaches at the backplane level.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind mating optical interface acts as an intermediary between the chassis optical infrastructure and the line card transceiver. This intermediary connection at the back of the line card provides a stable, permanent optical path that remains active during line card removal, eliminating the need to disconnect fibers at the front panel when servicing the line card.
2Productivity
If optical fibers are bundled into ribbon cables, then connection density is increased, but individual fiber disconnection becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the optical connection functions: the blind mating interface at the back handles the bundled ribbon cable connection to the chassis, while the transceiver interface at the front maintains individual fiber accessibility. This allows ribbon cables to be used for high-density connections without sacrificing the ability to service individual fibers or transceivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the permanent optical connection from the front panel dimension to the back of the line card dimension. By placing the blind mating optical interface at the back, the system enables ribbon cable bundling at the chassis interface while maintaining front-panel accessibility for individual fiber management and transceiver servicing.
3Productivity
If multiple optical interfaces are placed on a single line card to increase capacity, then network capacity increases, but the complexity of fiber management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical connection management is segmented between the blind mating interface at the back (handling chassis connectivity) and the transceiver interface at the front (handling fiber connectivity). This segmentation simplifies fiber management for multi-interface line cards, as all optical fibers connect to the transceiver interface at the front while the back connection remains a single blind mating interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind mating optical interface provides a universal connection point at the back of the line card that serves all optical interfaces on the line card simultaneously. This universal back-connection approach reduces fiber management complexity compared to individual connections for each optical interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for optical fiber management in a chassis-based network system involves using a blind mating optical interface at the back of a line card and an optical transceiver interface that is accessible from the front of the line card. The blind mating optical interface and the transceiver interface are optically connected by an optical signal path that includes and optical fiber. When the line card is secured within a compatible chassis, the blind mating optical interface of the line card connects to a blind mating optical interface of the chassis and creates an optical connection between an external optical fiber and the transceiver interface.