Optical Cross-Connect System Reducing Fiber Count and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data cross-connect systems face challenges in reducing the number of interconnecting optical fibers and cross-connect subracks, leading to increased size and power consumption, particularly due to the limitations of electrical cross-connect subracks and the low interconnection rate of MEMS-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A data cross-connect system comprising multiple cross-connect modules that package data signals into electrical signals and convert them into aligned optical signals, allowing for direct switching in the optical layer, reducing the need for interconnecting optical fibers and subracks by applying cross-connecting in the optical layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrical cross-connect subracks are used to build cluster cross-connect system, then cross-connect capacity is improved, but power consumption and system size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical cross-connecting mechanisms with optical cross-connecting mechanisms. Specifically, it uses optical switches and optical cross-connect subracks instead of electrical switches and electrical cross-connect subracks. This substitution allows the system to achieve high cross-connect capacity while significantly reducing power consumption, as optical switching consumes less energy compared to electrical switching at the required signal rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by switching from electrical domain to optical domain. It operates at higher signal rates (e.g., 10 Gbps or higher) in the optical domain compared to electrical domain, which enables better performance-to-power-ratio. The system uses optical signals with higher bandwidth and lower attenuation characteristics to achieve efficient cross-connect capacity.
2Productivity
If electrical cross-connect subracks are used to support strict sense non-blocking, then cross-connect capacity is improved, but the number of interconnecting optical fibers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical cross-connecting with optical cross-connecting in the second stage. By using optical switches and optical cross-connect subracks, the system achieves non-blocking performance with fewer interconnecting optical fibers. Optical switching enables direct optical-to-optical connection without requiring the extensive electrical signaling infrastructure that would demand more fiber connections.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If MEMS devices are used to switch cross-connect granules directly in optical layer, then power consumption is reduced, but overall interconnection rate becomes too low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cross-connect system into multiple stages with different functional characteristics. The first and third stages use electrical cross-connecting for signal conversion and processing, while the second stage uses optical cross-connecting for high-speed switching. This segmentation allows each stage to operate at its optimal speed and efficiency, achieving both low power consumption in the optical stage and high interconnection rate through the coordinated multi-stage architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical-to-electrical converters and electrical-to-optical converters as intermediary components between the electrical and optical cross-connect stages. These converters enable seamless transition between domains, allowing the system to leverage the low power consumption of optical switching while maintaining high interconnection rates through the electrical processing capabilities in the first and third stages.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If MEMS devices are used for optical layer switching, then power consumption is reduced, but switch speed becomes very slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cross-connect function across multiple stages, placing fast electrical switching in the first and third stages while using lower-speed optical switching in the second stage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve fast switch speeds where needed (at the input and output stages) while maintaining low power consumption in the optical cross-connect stage.
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 approach enhances interconnection rates, reduces the number of optical fibers and subracks, improves reliability and maintainability, and decreases the complexity and resource requirements of the system.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one transmitter is configured to convert the at least one channel of electrical signals packaged by the signal packaging sub-module into at least one channel of optical signals whose effective areas are aligned
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a data cross-connect system and method. The data cross-connect system comprises: at least two first stage cross-connect modules, at least one second stage cross-connect module and at least one third stage cross-connect module; the first stage cross-connect module comprises: a first stage cross-connect sub-module, a signal packaging sub-module, a first information generation sub-module and at least one transmitter. The present invention allows high rate interconnection between subracks, therefore the number of interconnecting optical fibers and connectors of the optical fibers can be reduced; in addition, the second stage cross-connect module applies cross-connecting directly in the optical layer, hence the number of cross-connect subracks can be reduced and the size and power consumption of the cross-connect subracks can also be reduced.