Silicon Photonic Integrated System in Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and cost of internal wiring in data center switches due to the growing number of interfaces required for high bandwidth and data processing demands.
Innovation Solution
A silicon photonic integrated system in a switch that includes a multi-wavelength laser module, a first multiplexer, an optical channel, and a light signal generating element, where the multiplexer combines laser beams into a single optical channel, reducing the number of optical channels and simplifying internal wiring by using a beam splitter and light modulators to generate multiple light output signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of switch interfaces is increased to meet bandwidth demands, then data processing capability is improved, but internal wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser beams with different wavelengths into a single optical channel using a multiplexer. This merging of multiple optical signals into one physical pathway reduces the number of separate optical channels needed, thereby simplifying internal wiring while maintaining the capability to handle multiple data streams simultaneously for high bandwidth requirements.
2Productivity
If more optical channels are used to support more interfaces, then bandwidth is improved, but the number of components and wiring increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple laser beams carrying different wavelength channels are merged into a single optical channel through the multiplexer. This allows the system to transmit multiple data streams over one optical pathway instead of requiring separate optical channels for each wavelength, reducing the quantity of optical channels needed while preserving bandwidth capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single optical channel serves multiple functions by carrying combined laser beams of different wavelengths simultaneously. This multi-functional optical channel replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated channels, reducing component quantity while maintaining universal support for various data transmission needs.
3Reliability
If traditional separate optical paths are used for each wavelength, then signal integrity is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexer merges multiple wavelength-specific laser beams into a single optical channel while preserving the integrity of each wavelength signal. This combining approach maintains signal integrity for each wavelength channel while reducing wiring complexity compared to separate optical paths for each wavelength.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiplexer acts as an intermediary device that receives multiple wavelength channels, combines them appropriately, and outputs them through a single optical channel. This intermediary component enables signal integrity preservation across wavelengths while simplifying the overall wiring arrangement by serving as a consolidation point.
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 reduces the complexity and cost of internal wiring by minimizing the number of optical channels and simplifying the light signal generating element's internal wiring, enhancing the efficiency of data processing and bandwidth in data centers.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-wavelength laser module provides a continuous wave and is configured to emit n laser beams with different peak wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
The first multiplexer is optically coupled to the multi-wavelength laser module, and configured to receive the laser beams and combine the laser beams into a combined beam
Implementation Method 3
the light modulating elements modulate the corresponding second beams, and the light modulating elements respectively generate a corresponding first-order light signal
Data Source
AI summary
A silicon photonic integrated system in a switch includes a multi-wavelength laser module, a first multiplexer, an optical channel, and a light signal generating element. The multi-wavelength laser module is configured to emit n laser beams with different peak wavelengths, and n is an integer greater than 2. The first multiplexer is optically coupled to the multi-wavelength laser module and configured to receive the laser beams and combine them into a combined beam. The optical channel is configured to receive a combined beam. The light signal generating element receives the combined beam through the optical channel and modulates the combined beam to emit a plurality of light output signals.