Optical Retimer for Hybrid Interconnect Signal Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid interconnect systems face challenges in efficiently converting electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa along an end-to-end path, particularly in high-performance computing and data centers, leading to higher latency, power consumption, and costs due to the need for separate optical channels and switching approaches.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical retimers that perform retiming operations between electrical and optical interconnects, minimizing changes to interconnect ports, and using optical retimers as chips that interface with interconnect ports to provide an end-to-end connection by manipulating bits at the physical layer, reducing latency and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If separate optical channels and switching approaches are used for signal conversion, then signal transmission capability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical and optical interconnect functions into a single hybrid interconnect system, eliminating the need for separate optical channels and switching infrastructure. The optical retimer integrates both electrical signal processing and optical signal conversion in one device, reducing the number of discrete components and interfaces required, thereby decreasing latency while maintaining transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical retimer serves as an intermediary device that performs retiming operations between electrical and optical interconnects. It acts as a bridge that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa while maintaining signal integrity and timing synchronization, enabling efficient signal conversion without requiring complex separate optical channel infrastructure.
2Speed
If separate optical channels and switching approaches are used for signal conversion, then signal transmission capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid interconnect system merges electrical and optical interconnect functions into a single integrated architecture. By combining these functions, the system eliminates redundant power consumption associated with maintaining separate optical channel infrastructure and switching devices, reducing overall power consumption while preserving signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical retimer performs retiming operations locally at the point of signal conversion, eliminating the need for signals to travel through extended optical channels and switching infrastructure. This self-service approach at the retimer reduces the energy required for signal transmission and processing across the interconnect path.
3Speed
If separate optical channels and switching approaches are used for signal conversion, then signal transmission capability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges electrical and optical interconnect functions into a single hybrid interconnect system with a unified architecture. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate optical channel infrastructure, multiple switching devices, and complex interface configurations, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining high-speed signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical retimer is designed as a universal device that can handle both electrical and optical signal conversions within a single platform. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized separate optical channel hardware and switching infrastructure, reducing system complexity and cost while preserving transmission capabilities.
4Ease of manufacture
If minimal changes to interconnect ports are made, then ease of implementation is improved, but signal reach and integrity may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The optical retimer acts as an intermediary device that performs retiming operations to extend signal reach and maintain signal integrity over longer distances. By introducing this intermediate retiming function, the system can achieve extended reach without requiring extensive modifications to existing interconnect port designs, balancing ease of implementation with improved signal reliability.
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 reduces latency, power consumption, and costs by enabling efficient data transfer with minimal changes to existing interconnect ports, supporting high-speed communications in HPC and data centers through optical retimers that manage signal integrity and extend signal reach.
Implementation Method 1
optical retimers that perform retiming operations between electrical and optical interconnects
Data Source
AI summary
Optical connectivity for interconnects are described. A method includes determining an optical interconnect supports a defined optical mode, decoding electrical signals from an electrical interconnect, the electrical signals to represent a number of bits from one or more messages, converting the electrical signals to optical signals for the optical interconnect, and mapping the decoded bits to one or more optical channels of the optical interconnect. Other embodiments are described and claimed.