Modular Receptacle for Multi-Lane Cable Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network switch modules with fixed lane-count connectors and cables lead to wasted lanes when connecting network interface chips with varying lane counts, resulting in inefficiency, increased costs, and potential signal integrity and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
Designing modularly scalable connectors and receptacles that can accommodate different lane-count cables, allowing all lanes of network chips to be utilized, with dynamic detection of cable types to configure system management logic appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed lane-count connectors and cables are used, then connector design is simple and manufacturing is easy, but lanes are wasted when connecting network interface chips with varying lane counts
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate multiple lane counts (1-lane, 2-lane, 4-lane, and 8-lane cables) through a single connector design. The housing contains receptacle contact members arranged to interface with different cable configurations, allowing one receptacle type to serve multiple functions across varying lane requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design segments the contact members into different groups corresponding to different lane counts. The receptacle contact members are positioned to engage with specific cable contact members based on the lane count detected, allowing the system to segment the connection paths appropriately while using a unified physical receptacle structure.
2Reliability
If fixed lane-count connectors and cables are used, then manufacturing and system design are simplified, but connection reliability and signal integrity deteriorate due to wasted lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates detect members in both the cable and receptacle that provide feedback about the cable's lane count to system management logic. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically configure the appropriate lane count setting, ensuring optimal connection reliability and signal integrity without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple specialized connector designs.
3Productivity
If multiple fixed lane-count connector types are used to support varying lane counts, then all lanes can be utilized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle design achieves full lane utilization across different cable types using a single universal receptacle structure. The housing contains receptacle contact members that can engage with 1-lane, 2-lane, 4-lane, or 8-lane cable contact members depending on which cable is inserted, eliminating the need for multiple specialized receptacle types while maintaining complete lane utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
One example of a system includes a receptacle including a plurality of bays. Each bay of the receptacle supports 1-lane of network communications. The receptacle is to connect to a multi-lane optical cable to provide a multi-lane port or connect to a plurality of 1-lane optical cables to provide a plurality of 1-lane ports.