Reflective Body Optical Interconnect for Bidirectional Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical interconnects require significant board space for bidirectional communication, leading to inefficiencies in manufacturing costs, power consumption, and transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reflective body with double-sided mirrors and optically conductive rows and columns, where a single reflective body is strategically positioned to enable bidirectional optical communication between devices, reducing the physical footprint and allowing for simultaneous, efficient data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional optical interconnects are used for bidirectional communication, then communication functionality is achieved, but board space consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reflective body with the waveguide structure, integrating the reflection function into the waveguide itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate reflective components and reduces the overall space required for bidirectional communication while maintaining full communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it guides optical signals in both directions and incorporates reflective surfaces to enable bidirectional communication. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing board space consumption.
2Productivity
If more optical components are added to enable bidirectional communication, then communication efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the reflective body with the waveguide structure, the patent reduces the total number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the efficiency of bidirectional communication through the integrated reflective waveguide design.
3Area of stationary object
If separate reflective bodies are used for each communication direction, then bidirectional communication is achieved, but physical footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reflective functions for different communication directions into a single integrated reflective body that is part of the waveguide structure. This single reflective body handles multiple communication directions, significantly reducing the physical footprint compared to using separate reflective bodies for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated reflective body is designed to perform multiple functions by reflecting optical signals in different directions simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the single reflective body to enable bidirectional communication without requiring separate reflective components, thereby minimizing the physical footprint.
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 configuration effectively doubles the efficiency of optical crossbar interconnects, reducing manufacturing costs and power consumption while improving transmission efficiency by enabling two separate channels between any given column and row pair, thus minimizing the physical space required.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective body having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface opposite the first reflective surface. A first optical waveguide directs a first optical signal received from a first communicating device to the first reflective surface of the reflective body. A second optical waveguide directs the first optical signal from the first reflective surface of the reflective body to a second communicating device.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interconnect (200) includes: a reflective body (230) having a first reflective surface (235) and a second reflective surface (240) opposite the first reflective surface (235); a first optical waveguide (205) that directs a first optical signal received from a first communicating device (105) to the first reflective surface (235); a second optical waveguide (210) that directs the first optical signal from the first reflective surface (235) of the reflective body (230) to a second communicating device (110); a third optical waveguide (215) that directs a second optical signal received from the second communicating device (110) to the second reflective surface (240) of the reflective body (230); and a fourth optical waveguide (220) that directs the second optical signal from the second reflective surface (240) of the reflective body (230) to the first communicating device (105).