Data Center Path Switch Electrical Fabric Low Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center path switches face challenges with high latency, limited scalability, and increased complexity and cost as the number of ports increases, due to issues with existing optical crosspoint switching technologies such as MEMS and waveguide techniques, which suffer from reliability problems, signal loss, and exponential cost growth.
Innovation Solution
A data center path switch architecture that implements a path interconnection unit capable of switching optical and electrical signals with low latency, supporting thousands of ports, and featuring a modular design with an electrical based switching fabric that allows for non-blocking interconnects, signal regeneration, and diagnostic capabilities, while maintaining performance across different medium interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If optical crosspoint switching technologies (MEMS, waveguide) are used to increase port density, then the number of ports can be increased, but latency increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple path interconnection units, each handling a subset of ports. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple data streams simultaneously, reducing overall latency while supporting high port density through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical MEMS switching systems with an electrical-based switching fabric. This substitution eliminates the inherent latency and reliability issues of mechanical components while maintaining the ability to support high port density through electronic switching mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If optical crosspoint switching technologies are used to increase port density, then more ports can be connected, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical waveguide crosspoint switching with an electrical-based switching fabric. This substitution reduces signal loss by using electrical connections instead of optical paths that suffer from attenuation and require complex optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical switching fabric acts as an intermediary between input and output ports, providing a more efficient transmission medium that reduces signal loss compared to direct optical crosspoint switching, while still enabling high port density connections.
3Quantity of substance
If the number of ports is increased in current architectures, then port density increases, but device complexity and cost increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The switching fabric is divided into multiple path interconnection units that can be independently managed and scaled. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single unit while collectively supporting high port density, avoiding exponential complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a modular dimensional approach where path interconnection units can be stacked or arranged in additional dimensions. This allows linear or near-linear scaling of port density without proportionally increasing the complexity of individual switching elements.
4Quantity of substance
If MEMS technology is used for optical switching, then port density can be increased, but reliability decreases due to moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly replaces mechanical MEMS components with an electrical-based switching fabric that has no moving parts. This substitution fundamentally eliminates the reliability issues associated with mechanical wear and failure while maintaining the ability to support high port density.
Data Source
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AI summary
A data center path switch architecture permits path switching of the signal path of incoming signals to one or more output paths in real time without the need for manual intervention, and without delays associated with current data center network switches. In this architecture, a switching core capable of switching signals directly from the ingress of the switching core to alternate destination ports in real time, either under software or hardware control.