Optical Transceiver Bypass Routing for Electrical Interface Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing optical-line rates in pluggable optical transceivers pose challenges for the electrical interface, leading to higher costs and complexity, as well as limitations in the distance and size of transceiver racks, due to the need for higher bit rates at the electrical interface.
Innovation Solution
A transceiver module with a bypass data path allowing direct data transfer between optical transceivers without routing through the host network device's electrical connectors, enabling lower electrical interface bit rates and reducing complexity and cost, while being reconfigurable to support various optical and electrical data rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical-line rates are increased in pluggable optical transceivers, then data transmission capacity is improved, but electrical interface complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission path into two separate paths: an optical path for high-speed data transmission between optical transceivers, and a simplified electrical path for control and lower-speed data. This segmentation allows the optical subsystem to operate at high rates without proportionally increasing electrical interface complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical transmission medium that carries high-speed data signals between transceivers, bypassing the electrical interface for bulk data transmission. This intermediary optical path handles the high-rate data flow, while the electrical interface is relieved to handle only control functions and lower-speed traffic
2Productivity
If optical-line rates are increased, then data transmission capacity is improved, but distance limitations in transceiver racks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical signal transmission mechanism with an optical signal transmission mechanism for high-speed data paths. Optical signals can traverse longer distances with lower attenuation and interference compared to electrical signals, thereby extending the effective distance between transceivers in the rack while maintaining high data rates
3Productivity
If electrical interface bit rate is increased to match optical-line rates, then data transmission capacity is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of different interface components independently: the optical transceivers operate at high bit rates for maximum data capacity, while the electrical interface operates at a lower, more cost-effective bit rate. This parameter differentiation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and performance requirements, reducing overall system cost while maintaining high transmission capacity
Data Source
AI summary
We disclose a transceiver module having two optical transceivers, each connectable to a different respective optical line, and a pluggable electrical connector that can be mated with a matching electrical connector in a connection slot of the host network device. The transceiver module also has an electrical interface circuit that can transfer data between the optical transceivers and the host network device in a manner that provides a route for transferring data between two optical transceivers without crossing the electrical connectors. This architecture advantageously enables the optical-line rates to not be limited by the electrical data rate of data transfer through the electrical connectors. In some embodiments, the transceiver module is configurable in a manner that can change the optical-line rates of the optical transceivers and/or the electrical data rate. The latter feature enables the transceiver module to be compatible with both older and newer network devices.