Tunable Light Sources for Dynamic Optical Routing in Multi-Chip Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical network topologies for multi-chip modules (MCMs) face challenges in providing high, dynamically configurable site-to-site bandwidth while maintaining low latency and power consumption, often requiring trade-offs that result in increased power consumption, optical signal loss, or arbitration overhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-chip module (MCM) with integrated circuits connected by optical waveguides using tunable light sources and control logic to dynamically specify carrier wavelengths, allowing for contention-free communication and flexible bandwidth allocation without the need for arbitration or switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If static WDM point-to-point optical network is used, then low arbitration overhead and high peak utilization are achieved, but bandwidth between any two sites is constrained and cannot be dynamically configured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the optical network bandwidth configurable through dynamic allocation of wavelengths to different routes. The system transitions from static bandwidth allocation to dynamic bandwidth allocation where the same physical infrastructure can adapt bandwidth distribution based on traffic demands between different site pairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of bandwidth allocation from fixed to variable by introducing controllable wavelength routing. By adjusting which wavelengths are assigned to which routes between sites, the system can dynamically modify the effective bandwidth between any two sites without changing the physical network topology.
2Adaptability or versatility
If switches are added to increase site-to-site bandwidth, then bandwidth flexibility is improved, but power consumption and optical signal loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switching function from traditional optical switches and implements it through wavelength-based routing control. By removing physical switches and using wavelength assignment to achieve routing flexibility, the system eliminates the power consumption and signal loss associated with optical switching while maintaining bandwidth adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical/optical switching with a wavelength-multiplexing-based routing mechanism. Instead of using physical switches to redirect optical signals, the system uses wavelength division multiplexing and controlled wavelength assignment to achieve flexible routing without mechanical moving parts or active switching components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If switches are added to provide dynamic bandwidth allocation, then bandwidth configurability is improved, but optical signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the routing control function from physical switches and implements it through wavelength assignment mechanisms. By removing switches from the optical path and using wavelength-based routing, the system eliminates insertion loss and switching-related optical signal degradation while maintaining dynamic bandwidth allocation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical switching with wavelength-multiplexing-based routing. This substitution eliminates the need for physical signal redirection through switches, thereby reducing optical signal loss while preserving the ability to dynamically configure bandwidth between different site pairs.
4Productivity
If more optical waveguides are provided to increase bandwidth, then site-to-site bandwidth is improved, but device complexity and area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making each optical waveguide capable of carrying multiple wavelengths that can be dynamically assigned to different routes. Instead of requiring dedicated waveguides for each site pair, the same waveguide infrastructure serves multiple routing functions through wavelength multiplexing, reducing overall waveguide density while maintaining high bandwidth capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the wavelength dimension to the traditional spatial waveguide architecture. By utilizing multiple wavelengths on the same physical waveguide, the system effectively increases bandwidth capacity without proportionally increasing waveguide density or device complexity, transforming the problem from a spatial dimension to a spectral dimension.
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 low latency and power efficiency, balancing bandwidth and latency requirements for interconnect applications while avoiding the limitations of existing topologies.
Implementation Method 1
a set of tunable light sources that output optical signals having carrier wavelengths specified by the control signal
Implementation Method 2
first optical waveguides, optically coupled to the integrated circuits, that convey modulated optical signals from transmitters in the integrated circuits
Implementation Method 3
a transmitter that modulates at least one of the optical signals when transmitting information to at least another of the integrated circuits
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 tunable light sources. 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 a given carrier wavelength associated with the given integrated circuit when receiving information from at least the other of the integrated circuits. Furthermore, control logic in the MCM provides a control signal to the set of tunable light sources to specify carrier wavelengths in the optical signals output by the set of tunable light sources, thereby defining routing of at least the one of the optical signals in the MCM during communication between at least a pair of the integrated circuits.