JP2005033683A - Signal processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a signal processing apparatus which enhances the extendibility to easily connect apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: The signal processing apparatus is configured by mutually connecting two back planes 10, 20. A plurality of units 11, 21 are connected to the back planes 10, 20. Within each of the units 11, 21, electric/optic conversion circuits and optic/electric conversion circuits for transmission and reception are provided. Beam splitters 12, 22 are connected with the electric/optic conversion circuits within the units via optical connectors 13, 23. One of the units in the back planes 10, 20 is constituted as each of extension units 11a, 21a and connected via extension optical fibers 31, 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal processing device configured using an optical branching device using a light-transmitting medium that transmits optical signals between a plurality of circuit boards or devices.

Conventionally, transmission / reception of signals between a plurality of circuit boards and between devices is usually performed by electrical connection. However, in electrical connection, it is difficult to cope with high-speed signal transmission due to skew between channels, occurrence of crosstalk, increase in fanout, and the like (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Takashi Kurokawa, “Overview of Optical Interconnection”, Information Processing, Vol. 41, no. 9, pp. 1004-1007 (2000)).

On the other hand, the following Patent Document 1 proposes an optical data bus in which light emitting / receiving devices are arranged on both front and back surfaces of each circuit board and the light emitting / receiving devices on adjacent circuit boards are spatially coupled with light. Has been.
However, this technology requires optical / electrical conversion for each communication between adjacent circuit boards, so it is costly and has high latency, and because it uses free space propagation, positioning is severe, and crosstalk and dust There is a disadvantage that it is weak.
JP-A-2-41042

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 proposes a technique for optically coupling circuit boards through a diffraction path disposed on the plate surface and an optical path constituted by a reflective element.
However, this technique has a problem that a many-to-many connection cannot be made because light emitted from one point can be connected to only one fixed point.
JP-A-61-196210

As means for solving such a problem, for example, optical branching devices as shown in the following Patent Documents 3 and 4 have been proposed.
These optical branching devices are configured to transmit incident signal light and emit or reflect all incident signal light.
JP 2000-241655 A JP 2000-329962 A

By the way, in an optical signal processing device (backplane), the number of units (modules, circuit boards, etc.) connected is not sufficient with only one backplane, and a larger number of unit connections may be required. In such a case, it is necessary to connect the plurality of backplanes to each other to expand the entire system. Conventionally, however, there is no sufficient connection method between the backplanes. Therefore, a signal processing apparatus that can easily expand the system has been desired.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a signal processing apparatus excellent in expandability that can be easily connected between apparatuses.

  The object is to have a first signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices and an extension unit connected to the optical branching device, and a plurality of optical branching devices and an extension unit connected to the optical branching device. This is achieved by a signal processing device including a second signal processing device and an optical fiber connecting the extension units of the first and second signal processing devices.

  Here, the number of the optical fibers connecting the extension units can be made smaller than the number of the optical branching devices of the first or second signal processing device. In this case, the extension unit includes a first photoelectric conversion circuit that converts a plurality of input signal lights into a plurality of electrical signals, a parallel / serial conversion circuit that bundles a plurality of electrical signals into one, and the electrical signals. A first transmission / reception circuit having a first electro-optical conversion circuit for converting the signal light into a signal light, a second photoelectric conversion circuit for converting the input signal light into an electric signal, and a plurality of the electric signals At least one of a second transmission / reception circuit having a serial / parallel conversion circuit that divides the electric signal into a plurality of electric signals and a second electric / optical conversion circuit that converts a plurality of electric signals into a plurality of signal lights. The first photoelectric conversion circuit includes a light receiving element array that converts a plurality of signal lights into a plurality of electrical signals, and the second electro-optical conversion circuit converts a plurality of electrical signals into a plurality of signal lights. A light emitting element array that converts to

  Further, the number of the optical fibers connecting the extension units can be made equal to the number of the optical branching devices of the first or second signal processing device. In this case, the extension unit can include a transmission / reception circuit having a photoelectric conversion circuit that converts the input signal light into an electric signal and an electric light conversion circuit that converts the electric signal into signal light. Further, the optical fiber can be detachable from the extension unit.

  Further, the light branching device includes a light-transmitting medium, a light reflecting means or a light reflecting / diffusing means disposed at one end of the light-transmitting medium, and an optical fiber connected to the other end of the light-transmitting medium. Or a translucent medium, a light transmission diffusion means disposed at one end of the light transmission medium, and an optical fiber connected to the light transmission medium via the light transmission diffusion means And an optical fiber connected to the other end of the translucent medium.

The signal processing device according to the present invention includes a first signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices, a second signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices, and the first and second signal processing. An optical fiber that connects the plurality of optical branching devices of the apparatus can be provided. Here, the optical fiber can be attached to and detached from the optical branching device.
By configuring in this way, it is possible to realize a signal processing apparatus excellent in expandability that can be easily connected between apparatuses.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a signal processing device with excellent expandability that allows easy connection between devices.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the signal processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. Before that, an example of an optical branching apparatus used in the signal processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an optical branching device that splits incident signal light into a plurality of paths and emits it. As shown in the figure, the optical branching device 1 includes a rectangular translucent medium 3, a plurality of optical fibers 4, and light reflecting means for reflecting light (or light reflecting diffusion for reflecting and diffusing light, as shown in the figure. Means) 5. In this example, 14 optical fibers 4 form a pair composed of two optical fibers for transmission and reception, and are optically connected to one end of the translucent medium 3, respectively. The light reflecting means (or light reflecting / diffusing means) 5 provided at the other end of the translucent medium 3 is for reflecting (or reflecting / diffusing) the signal light propagating through the translucent medium 3. . The optical branching device 1 can seal each optical component on the support substrate 2 with a sealing member made of resin, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-114353.

  In the optical branching device configured as described above, the signal light incident on the translucent medium 3 from one optical fiber 4 propagates in the translucent medium 3 and is a light reflecting means (light reflecting / diffusing means). 5, propagates in the opposite direction in the translucent medium 3, and is emitted from the 14 optical fibers approximately evenly from the end portion on the optical fiber side. Here, for example, a Φ0.5 mm POF (plastic optical fiber) is used as the optical fiber, and a 7 mm (width) × 35 mm (length) × 0.5 mm (thickness) optical transmission medium is used. It is done.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a 4-bit optical branching device in which the optical branching device is stacked in four layers. Ferrules 6 are provided at the optical fiber output ends of the stacked optical branching devices 1 for connection with other optical components. The ferrule 6 is provided for each of the four optical fibers corresponding in the stacking direction of the optical branching device 1. Here, in order to satisfactorily stack the optical branching device 1, the resin sealing as described above is used for each optical component on the support substrate.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a signal processing apparatus according to the present invention. The present embodiment shows a configuration example in which two signal processing devices (backplanes) 10 and 20 are connected by two optical fibers 31 and 32. Seven units (modules, circuit boards, etc.) 11 and 21 are connected to the backplanes 10 and 20, respectively. In the example shown here, each of the units 11 and 21 is provided with an electro-optical conversion circuit and an opto-electric conversion circuit for transmission and reception, respectively. Further, for example, the optical branching devices 12 and 22 constituting the backplanes 10 and 20 shown in FIG. 2 are used, and are connected to the electro-optical conversion circuit inside each unit via the optical connectors 13 and 23. . Inside this optical connector, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a drive circuit thereof, and the like (not shown) are built. The units of the backplanes 10 and 20 are also connected via electrical connectors 14 and 24, respectively.

  In this way, two backplanes are connected by optical fibers. Although a single backplane can connect multiple units, the number of unit connections is not sufficient with only one backplane. This is because a form in which a plurality of backplanes are further connected may be required. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, one of the units of the backplanes 10 and 20 is configured as an extension unit 11a and 21a, respectively, and is connected via the extension optical fibers 31 and 32. The extension optical fibers 31 and 32 can be configured to be detachable from the extension units 11a and 21a, respectively.

  FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the extension unit. For example, the expansion unit 11a is connected to the four optical fiber pairs of the optical branching device 12 via the optical connector 13 on the one hand, and connected to the additional optical fibers 31 and 32 on the other hand. The extension unit 11a includes a first photoelectric conversion circuit 41 that converts signal light from other units connected in each backplane into an electrical signal, and parallel / serial conversion that bundles a plurality of electrical signal lines into one. The first transmission / reception circuit 44 including the circuit 42 and the first electro-optical conversion circuit 43 for transmitting the signal light to the other backplane and the signal light from the other backplane are received and electrically A second photoelectric conversion circuit 45 that converts a signal, a serial / parallel conversion circuit 46 that divides one signal line into a plurality, and a second electrical / optical conversion circuit 47 that transmits signal light to a unit in the backplane And a second transmission / reception circuit 48 configured from the above.

The first photoelectric conversion circuit 41 includes a PD (photodiode) array 411 (4 bits in this embodiment) and a TIA (transimpedance amplifier) 412, and the second photoelectric conversion circuit 45 is a PD 451. And TIA452. The first electro-optical conversion circuit 43 includes an LD (laser diode) 431 and an LDD (laser diode driver) 432, and the second electro-optical conversion circuit 47 includes an LD array 471 (4 in this embodiment). Bit) and LDD 472.
In the present embodiment, a configuration example in which two backplanes are connected by two optical fibers is shown, but an optical system that optically couples both PD and LD to one optical fiber may be used. .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the signal processing apparatus according to the present invention. This embodiment shows a configuration example in which two signal processing devices (backplanes) 10 and 20 are connected by two additional optical fiber bundles 51 and 52 each of which bundles four optical fibers. In this case, the first and second transmission / reception circuits of the extension units 11a and 21a of the backplanes 10 and 20 are configured not to include a serial / parallel conversion circuit and a parallel / serial conversion circuit. By using the extension optical fiber bundles 51 and 52, the circuit configuration of the extension units 11a and 21a can be simplified. The extension optical fiber bundles 51 and 52 can be configured to be detachable from the extension units 11a and 21a, respectively. Others are the same as in the embodiment of FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the signal processing apparatus according to the present invention. This embodiment shows a configuration example in which an extension optical fiber bundle 61 in which four optical fibers are bundled directly is connected between two signal processing devices (backplanes) 10 and 20 without providing an extension unit. Yes. In this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the optical plugs 64 and 65 of the additional optical fiber bundle 61 are connected to the receptacles 62 and 63 formed on the backplanes 10 and 20, respectively. A form in which the two are directly connected may be used. In this case, the extension optical fiber bundle 61 can be configured to be detachable from the optical branching devices 12 and 22. Others are the same as in the embodiment of FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another example of the optical branching device used in the signal processing device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present light branching device 71 includes a rectangular translucent medium 73 on a support substrate 72, a light transmission diffusion part 74 disposed at one end of the light transmission medium, and a light transmission diffusion part. An optical fiber 75 connected to the translucent medium, and an optical fiber 76 connected to the other end of the translucent medium. In the optical branching device configured as described above, the signal light incident from one optical fiber 75 is diffused by the diffusing unit 75 and transmitted to the other end of the translucent medium approximately uniformly. The light is emitted from the optical fiber 76 arranged substantially uniformly. Also in this example, each optical component on the support substrate 72 can be sealed with a sealing member made of resin.

  In the above embodiment, the number of units connected to the two signal processing devices (backplanes) is not limited to the above. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, an example is shown in which one unit includes an electro-optical conversion circuit and an opto-electric conversion circuit for transmission and reception, but either one may be used. Moreover, although the example which connects two backplanes was shown in the said Example, even if the number of backplane connections is three or more, it can comprise similarly. Also, in the figure, each of the optical branching devices used for each backplane is shown as being connected to a unit with the same number of branches (the number of optical fibers), but it is not always necessary to have the same number. The number of branches (number of optical fibers) is arbitrary as long as sufficient efficiency for optical transmission can be obtained. Further, the number of stacked optical branching devices is not limited to four, and may be more or less. Similarly, the number of backplane connections and the length (addition distance) of optical fibers used for connection are also arbitrary. Here, the optical branching device described above can be used as an optical branching and coupling device having a function as an optical coupling device.

  Further, for example, a beam shaping diffuser (manufactured by POC) or a lenticular lens as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the lenticular lens 81 is provided at the end of the translucent medium 82 opposite to the side to which the optical fiber 83 is connected. The lenticular lens 81 may be a separate part from the translucent medium 82, or may be formed directly on the end of the translucent medium 82. The light reflecting portion in FIG. 1 can use mirror reflection such as Al. The light reflecting / diffusing portion may be a combination (or integrated) of the light diffusing portion and the light reflecting portion. For example, this can be realized by providing the lenticular lens 81 of FIG. In addition, the lenticular lens 81 is used on the light incident side in the optical branching device 71 shown in FIG. 7, whereby uniform signal propagation to the optical fiber arranged at the other end can be performed.

  As the translucent medium, for example, a polyolefin (n = 1.53) produced by injection molding or the like is used. However, if the material has a sufficiently small absorption loss in the wavelength region of the light emitting element to be used, this is used. It is not limited, and the manufacturing method thereof may be a method such as cutting and polishing. As the optical fiber, the above-described POF, quartz fiber, and HPCF (hard polymer clad fiber) are used. The optical fiber such as POF is not limited to the SI (step index) type but may be a GI (graded index) type.

  In the present invention, by using the optical branching device as described above, a plurality of signal processing devices (backplanes) can be easily connected to each other. Further, the plurality of backplanes can be arranged at distant positions, and for example, signal transmission between backplanes arranged at a position several m to several tens m apart can be performed. Thereby, a some signal processing apparatus can be flexibly installed, for example in a room or a factory.

It is a top view which shows an example of the optical branching apparatus used for the signal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the optical branching device of 4 bits which laminated | stacked the optical branching device in 4 layers. It is a figure which shows one Example of the signal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the structural example of the unit for expansion. It is a figure which shows the other Example of the signal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the further another Example of the signal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the other example of the optical branching apparatus used for the signal processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the lenticular lens which comprises the light-diffusion part provided in a light branching apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10,20 Signal processing device (backplane)
11, 21 unit 11a, 21a extension unit 12, 22 optical branching device 13, 23 optical connector 14, 24 electrical connector 31, 32 extension optical fiber

Claims (12)

  A first signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices and an expansion unit connected to the optical branching device; a second signal having a plurality of optical branching devices and an expansion unit connected to the optical branching device; A signal processing apparatus comprising: a processing apparatus; and an optical fiber connecting the extension units of the first and second signal processing apparatuses.   2. The signal processing device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the optical fibers connecting the extension units is smaller than the number of the optical branching devices of the first or second signal processing device.   The extension unit includes a first photoelectric conversion circuit that converts a plurality of input signal lights into a plurality of electrical signals, a parallel / serial conversion circuit that bundles the plurality of electrical signals into one, and the electrical signals as signal light. A first transmission / reception circuit having a first electro-optical conversion circuit for converting the input signal light into an electric signal, and a plurality of electric signals. And a second transmission / reception circuit having a serial / parallel conversion circuit that divides the signal into a plurality of signals and a second electro-optical conversion circuit that converts a plurality of electric signals into a plurality of signal lights. 2. The signal processing device according to 2.   The signal processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first photoelectric conversion circuit includes a light receiving element array for converting a plurality of signal lights into a plurality of electrical signals.   4. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second electro-optical conversion circuit includes a light emitting element array that converts a plurality of electric signals into a plurality of signal lights.   2. The signal processing device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the optical fibers connecting the extension units is equal to the number of the optical branching devices of the first or second signal processing device.   The extension unit includes a transmission / reception circuit having a photoelectric conversion circuit that converts input signal light into an electrical signal and an electrical / optical conversion circuit that converts the electrical signal into signal light. Item 7. The signal processing device according to Item 6.   The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is detachable from the extension unit.   The optical branching device includes a translucent medium, a light reflecting unit or a light reflecting / diffusing unit disposed at one end of the translucent medium, and an optical fiber connected to the other end of the translucent medium. The signal processing device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device is a signal processing device.   The optical branching device is a translucent medium, a light transmission diffusion means disposed at one end of the light transmission medium, an optical fiber connected to the light transmission medium via the light transmission diffusion means, The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical fiber connected to the other end of the translucent medium.   A first signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices, a second signal processing device having a plurality of optical branching devices, and the plurality of optical branching devices of the first and second signal processing devices are connected. A signal processing apparatus comprising the optical fiber.   The signal processing device according to claim 11, wherein the optical fiber is detachable from the optical branching device.

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