Compound Optical Circuit Switch Mirror Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical circuit switches face challenges in maintaining efficient connections due to mirror element drift and variations in rotation angle versus applied voltage characteristics, leading to increased insertion loss and potential connection failure over time.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a compound optical circuit switch with a switch controller that uses a mirror calibration table to determine initial connection voltages and a position optimizer to periodically adjust mirror positions, minimizing insertion loss and compensating for drift through incremental changes and hill climbing algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If optical circuit switches use MEMS mirror arrays for switching, then the bandwidth is essentially the same as the optical communications paths and power consumption is substantially lower than conventional switches, but mirror element drift and variations in rotation angle versus applied voltage characteristics lead to increased insertion loss and potential connection failure over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidinsertion loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration by measuring the rotation angle versus applied voltage characteristics for each MEMS mirror element and storing this information in a calibration table. This preliminary action allows the system to compensate for drift and variations later during operation, maintaining connection stability and minimizing insertion loss without requiring continuous real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller periodically queries the calibration table to retrieve stored rotation angle versus voltage characteristics. This feedback allows the system to adjust the applied voltage to achieve the desired mirror position, compensating for drift and ensuring stable connections while minimizing energy loss over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system performs periodic optimization of mirror positions using hill climbing algorithms, then insertion loss is minimized and connection stability is maintained, but computational resources and processing time are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs optimization actions periodically rather than continuously. The controller is configured to query the calibration table at predetermined time intervals or when connection parameters change, rather than performing constant real-time optimization. This periodic action maintains connection stability while significantly reducing computational resource consumption and processing time compared to continuous optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The hill climbing algorithm performs preliminary optimization by pre-calculating and storing the optimal voltage values in the calibration table during an initial calibration phase. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated complex optimization calculations during normal operation, reducing processing time while maintaining connection stability through periodic updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures stable and efficient optical connections by optimizing mirror positions, reducing insertion loss, and automatically compensating for mechanical stress and electrical charge-induced drift, thereby maintaining high-performance connectivity.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the k first-tier switches may include a respective array of MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) mirrors... Each mirror element may be rotated by electrostatic attraction between the mirror element and either the first electrode or the second electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic actuation: Electrostatic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Each input sample portion may be directed to an input power meter. The remainder of the input optical signals... may be conveyed by respective optical fibers to respective collimator lenses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical power detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8929696B1Compound optical circuit switch with shared optical power measurements

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 CALIENT AI INC

AI summary

Compound optical circuit switches and methods are disclosed. Two or more 1st-tier switches may be configured to make selectable optical connections between a plurality of 1st-tier inputs and a plurality of 1st-tier outputs. Each 1st-tier switch may include input and output power meters to measure optical powers of signals received at the 1st-tier inputs and optical powers of signals output from the 1st-tier outputs, respectively. At least one 2nd-tier switch may include plural 2nd-tier inputs optically connected to respective 1st-tier outputs, plural 2nd-tier outputs optically connected to respective 1st-tier inputs, and plural 2nd-tier rotatable mirror elements to make selectable optical connections from the 2nd-tier inputs to the 2nd-tier outputs. A 2nd-tier switch controller may control positions of at least some of the 2nd-tier mirror elements based on optical power measurement data from the input power meters and the output power meters of the 1st-tier switches.