Centralized Wavelength Source for Data Center Optical Interconnects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale data centers face challenges with high energy consumption, difficult fiber distribution, and high costs due to heat dissipation issues and excessive optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
A data center design incorporating a centralized wavelength source to generate an N-wavelength laser beam, using a circulator or optical coupler for centralized heat dissipation and simplified fiber distribution by allowing communication devices to receive and send signals using a single optical fiber, reducing the need for multiple lasers and cooling apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each server or switch includes a laser and cooling apparatus, then communication functionality is achieved, but energy consumption increases and heat dissipation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the laser and cooling apparatus from individual servers or switches and centralizes them in a centralized optical module. This allows communication functionality to be maintained while eliminating the need for multiple distributed lasers and their associated cooling systems, thereby reducing overall energy consumption and simplifying heat dissipation management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple distributed laser functions into a single centralized optical module. By combining the optical carrier generation and modulation functions into one location, the system achieves the same communication capability with fewer components, reducing energy consumption and heat generation per device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical fibers are used for fiber distribution, then communication coverage is improved, but fiber distribution becomes difficult and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal single optical fiber interface that handles both receiving optical carriers from the centralized module and sending modulated signals back. This multi-functional single-fiber approach eliminates the need for separate transmit and receive fibers, simplifying fiber distribution while maintaining full communication coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using separate fibers for transmitting and receiving signals (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using a single fiber for both directions. The centralized optical module sends optical carriers on this single fiber, and the same fiber carries modulated signals back, effectively reversing the traditional multi-fiber architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces energy consumption, lowers costs, and simplifies device cabling by enabling centralized heat dissipation and efficient optical carrier management, thereby addressing the challenges of high energy usage and fiber complexity in large data centers.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength source, configured to generate an N-wavelength laser beam, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1
Implementation Method 2
the first optical component includes a first port, a second port, and a third port... the first port of the first optical component is configured to receive an M-wavelength laser beam from the wavelength source
Implementation Method 3
the modulated first optical signal is a modulated optical signal obtained after the first communications device modulates a service signal onto the first-wavelength laser beam
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~4a
Figure 4b~5a
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a data center. The data center includes a wavelength source, a first optical component, a first communications device, and a second communications device. The first optical component includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first communications device includes at least one of a server and a switch. The second communications device includes at least one of a server and a switch. The wavelength source is configured to generate an N-wavelength laser beam, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The first port of the first optical component is configured to receive an M-wavelength laser beam from the wavelength source, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N. The second port of the first optical component is configured to send the M-wavelength laser beam to the first communications device, where the M-wavelength laser beam includes at least a first-wavelength laser beam. The second port of the first optical component is further configured to receive a modulated first optical signal from the first communications device, where the modulated first optical signal is a modulated optical signal obtained after the first communications device modulates a service signal onto the first-wavelength laser beam. The third port of the first optical component is configured to send the modulated first optical signal to the second communications device.