Passive Fiber Organizer for WDM Mesh Node Interconnection Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WDM mesh networks face complexity and misconnection issues due to intricate interconnections between optical fiber nodes, making verification and installation of correct connectivity difficult and costly.
Innovation Solution
A passive optical fiber organizer with input and output ports and optical paths connecting them, along with verification paths, simplifies interconnections and ensures proper connection verification without active components, using ribbon cables and patch cords for connectivity and control lines for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex interconnections are used to achieve mesh network functionality, then network capacity and routing flexibility are improved, but connection verification difficulty and misconnection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing optical fibers into structured bundles with designated input and output ports before actual network deployment. The fibers are pre-labeled and arranged in a systematic pattern that corresponds to specific network nodes, so that when connections are made, the verification is simplified because the physical arrangement already encodes the expected connection topology. This pre-organization allows installers to verify connections by simply checking if fibers are plugged into the correct ports rather than having to trace complex paths through the network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous interconnection components are used to achieve mesh node functionality, then network functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate interconnection functions into a single integrated passive fiber organizer unit. Instead of using separate components for fiber routing, labeling, and organization, the invention combines these functions into one device that houses all optical fibers in a structured arrangement with clearly marked input and output ports. This consolidation reduces the total number of discrete components needed while maintaining full mesh node functionality, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If passive components are used instead of active components, then reliability and cost are improved, but interconnection flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The passive fiber organizer is designed with universal applicability to mesh networks of various sizes and configurations. The standardized port arrangement and fiber organization method can accommodate different network topologies and scaling requirements without requiring active electronic components. The system achieves adaptability through its modular design that can be configured for various mesh network arrangements while maintaining the simplicity and reliability of passive optical components throughout.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A mesh optical network node has switch cards which carry active components, such as wavelength routers to switch the paths of optical signals through the node and a fiber organizer handles the numerous optical fiber interconnections among the switch cards. The fiber organizer has no active components and can include optical paths to verify not only that a switch card connection to the fiber organizer has been made but that the connection is properly made.