Tunable Drop Filters for Dynamic Optical Bandwidth Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical network topologies face challenges in providing high, dynamically configurable site-to-site bandwidth while minimizing power consumption and component count, often resulting in low performance for workloads that heavily stress certain optical waveguides due to statically allocated bandwidth and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-chip module (MCM) with integrated circuits connected by optical waveguides and tunable drop filters, which use statically tuned light sources and dynamically reconfigurable optical routing to allocate bandwidth between integrated circuits, reducing contention and increasing site-to-site bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If statically allocated bandwidth is used in optical waveguides, then device complexity is reduced and power consumption is minimized, but site-to-site bandwidth is constrained and cannot be dynamically reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the optical network topology reconfigurable through tunable drop filters that can dynamically change their wavelength selection based on traffic demands. This allows the system to adapt bandwidth allocation in real-time without requiring complete topological changes, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by introducing controlled dynamic elements into an otherwise static architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter dynamically using tunable drop filters that can select different wavelengths from the multiplexed optical signals. By varying the wavelength parameter at each drop filter, the system can reconfigure bandwidth allocation between sites without changing the physical waveguide structure, thus achieving bandwidth reconfigurability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If statically tuned light sources are used, then power consumption is reduced and device complexity is minimized, but site-to-site bandwidth remains fixed and arbitration overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple wavelength channels through WDM multiplexing before traffic demands are known. The statically tuned light sources prepare multiple carrier wavelengths in advance, and the tunable drop filters can quickly select from these pre-prepared channels, avoiding the need for dynamic wavelength tuning and reducing arbitration latency while maintaining bandwidth flexibility.
3Productivity
If bandwidth is statically allocated to each site, then device complexity is reduced, but performance degrades when certain optical waveguides are heavily stressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making each optical waveguide capable of carrying multiple wavelength channels that can be dynamically assigned to different site pairs. The tunable drop filters enable each waveguide to serve multiple routing functions by selecting different wavelengths for different destinations, thus achieving high routing flexibility and productivity without requiring dedicated waveguides for each connection.
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 provides a high, dynamically configurable site-to-site bandwidth with reduced latency and power consumption, effectively addressing the limitations of existing optical network topologies by allowing flexible bandwidth allocation and minimizing overhead.
Implementation Method 1
tunable drop filters optically coupled to the optical waveguides and associated integrated circuits, wherein the tunable drop filters pass adjustable bands of wavelengths to receivers in the integrated circuits
Implementation Method 2
first optical waveguides, optically coupled to the integrated circuits, that convey modulated optical signals from transmitters in the integrated circuits, and second optical waveguides, optically coupled to the first optical waveguides, that convey the modulated optical signals
Implementation Method 3
integrated circuits that receive optical signals from a set of light sources which have fixed carrier wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
In a multi-chip module (MCM), integrated circuits are coupled by optical waveguides. These integrated circuits receive optical signals from a set of light sources which have fixed carrier wavelengths. Moreover, a given integrated circuit includes: a transmitter that modulates at least one of the optical signals when transmitting information to at least another of the integrated circuits; and a receiver that receives at least one modulated optical signal having one of the carrier wavelengths when receiving information from at least the other of the integrated circuits. Furthermore, the MCM includes tunable drop filters optically coupled to the optical waveguides and associated integrated circuits, wherein the tunable drop filters pass adjustable bands of wavelengths to receivers in the integrated circuits. Additionally, control logic in the MCM provides a control signal to the tunable drop filters to specify the adjustable bands of wavelengths.