WO1999045719A1 - Interconnexion de reseaux optiques a s<u>e</u>lection aleatoire - Google Patents

Interconnexion de reseaux optiques a s<u>e</u>lection aleatoire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999045719A1
WO1999045719A1 PCT/US1999/004488 US9904488W WO9945719A1 WO 1999045719 A1 WO1999045719 A1 WO 1999045719A1 US 9904488 W US9904488 W US 9904488W WO 9945719 A1 WO9945719 A1 WO 9945719A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical
transmission members
accordance
signals
stage
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/004488
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Victor Mizrahi
Original Assignee
Ciena Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ciena Corporation filed Critical Ciena Corporation
Priority to AU28865/99A priority Critical patent/AU2886599A/en
Publication of WO1999045719A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999045719A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
    • H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
    • H04Q11/0005—Switch and router aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
    • H04L49/40—Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane
    • H04L49/405—Physical details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane of ATM switches
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
    • G02B6/3554—3D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a volume
    • G02B6/3556—NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
    • H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
    • H04Q11/0005—Switch and router aspects
    • H04Q2011/0052—Interconnection of switches

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to optical communication systems and more particularly to a structure and method for interconnecting a plurality of optical switches.
  • Optical communication systems are a substantial and fast-growing constituent of communication networks because of their large transmission bandwidth and low signal losses.
  • LANs local area networks
  • MANs metropolitan area networks
  • WANs wide area networks
  • communications networks employ optical fiber as the transmission medium and electronic devices for processing of the received signals.
  • switching is performed by electronic components where the optical signals transmitted over a fiber are first converted to their electronic equivalent and subsequently processed.
  • electronic switches are better suited for use at transmission data rates lower than the current state of the art. This necessitates electronically demultiplexing the signals, performing the switching, then multiplexing the signals up to the transmission rate.
  • a drawback associated with these switching systems is the introduction of unwanted processing delays into the network caused by converting signals from optical to electrical and back to optical form.
  • the speed advantage associated with optical signal transmission was compromised by electronic switch processing.
  • these electronic switches have to be adapted for a given data rate and format within a communications network.
  • Optical switches are transparent in that they allow signal transmission independent of data rate and format. Consequently, optical switching components as well as high speed electronic cross point switches are being developed to accommodate increasing complexity associated with large optical communications networks.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a three stage switch 10 using the Clos Architecture.
  • the input stage 15 of switch 10 includes Nx2N switching elements 20, ...20 2N
  • the intermediate stage 30 includes 2Nx2N switching elements 35, ...35 2N
  • the output stage 40 includes 2NxN switching elements 45, ...45 2N where N is an integer.
  • the overall capacity of switch 10 is given by 2N 2 by 2N 2 where N is the number of inputs/outputs of each switch block 20.
  • N 16
  • the Clos Architecture of Fig. 1 provides a switch capacity of 512 by 512 (2(16) 2 ).
  • the Clos Architecture provides a switch capacity of 2048 by 2048.
  • a drawback associated with these large switches is the number of inter-stage connections which must occur to provide for a non-blocking configuration. Because this number is so high, as described above, a physical mess of interconnections occurs between each stage of the switch. This can cause problems when attempting to trace a particular connection, for example, when a fault or break occurs or for system integration when partitioning back panel real estate. These and additional problems are an even greater concern when dealing with optical switches because of the special accommodations associated with fiber handling in optical interconnects since optical fiber may be bend sensitive.
  • the present invention meets these needs and avoids the above-referenced drawbacks by providing a three dimensional optical switch interconnection structure for connecting a shuffle network which includes a first set of optical transmission members arranged in a first direction; a second set of optical transmission members arranged in a second direction; and a connection unit which couples each of the first set of transmission members to a corresponding one of the second set of transmission members.
  • a method of interconnecting a multiple stage shuffle network comprises the steps of arranging a first set of optical transmission members from a first stage of the shuffle network in a first direction. Arranging a second set of optical transmission members from a second stage of the network in a second direction. Connecting the first set of transmission members to the second set of transmission members such that each of the second set of transmission members is connected to a corresponding one of the first set of transmission members. Configuring the first direction of the first set of transmission members in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the second set of transmission members.
  • an optical switch which has 2N 2 inputs and 2N 2 outputs.
  • the switch includes a first stage of switching elements each having 2N outputs, a second stage of switching elements each having 2N inputs, an interconnection unit disposed between the first and second stages.
  • a first set of 4N 2 optical waveguides couple the first stage and the interconnection unit where each of the waveguides carry an optical signal.
  • the switch also includes a second set of 4N 2 optical waveguides which couple the interconnection unit and the second stage. Each of these waveguides also carry an optical signal.
  • Fig.l is a schematic illustration of a three stage Clos Switch Architecture.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of an optical interconnect in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a shuffle network interconnect 100 which may be used to connect input stage 15 with intermediate stage 30 and/or to connect intermediate stage 30 and output stage 40 of multistage switch 10 shown with reference to Fig. 1.
  • Input stage 15 may receive optical signals from various sources. For example, each port of input stage 15 may receive a particular channel from a plurality of optical channels transmitted over a dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) network.
  • Input stage 20 may also be associated with SONET terminal receiving or transmitting equipment as well as the input to another switch stage or an additional optical switch.
  • output stage 40 may be used as the input to a DWDM network, SONET terminal receiving/transmitting equipment and/or the input to another stage of an optical switch.
  • DWDM dense wavelength division multiplexed
  • Input stage 15, intermediate stage 30 and output stage 40 of switch 10 can include, for example, various types of optical or electrical switching elements 20, ...20 2N .
  • Such optical switching elements include directional couplers, waveguide grating routers, etc.
  • the switching process and transmission of signals between the switching stages are in optical form.
  • the inputs to and outputs from each of the stages in switch 10 can lie in substantially the same plane.
  • the input fibers to input stage 15 and the output fibers from input stage 15 can lie along the same plane.
  • the input fibers to intermediate stage 30 and the output fibers from intermediate stage 30 can lie along the same plane regardless of whether that plane is the same or different from the plane associated with the inputs and outputs of input stage 15.
  • Output stage 40 can also be configured in the same manner.
  • Input stage 15, intermediate stage 30 and output stage 40 of switch 10 can also include electrical switching elements with optical transmitters and receivers at the respective inputs and outputs of each stage. This configuration may be useful, for example, when the various stages of switch 10 are physically separated, thereby making electrical transmission between stages less advantageous.
  • input stage 15 would include optical receivers at the input ports and optical transmitters at its output ports.
  • the input stage receives signals in optical form, converts these signals to their electrical equivalent using, for example, a photodetector, performs the necessary switch processing, and converts the electrical signals to optical form by way of an optical emitter for transmission to intermediate stage 30 via optical fibers 38.
  • the optical emitter can be, for example, a DFB laser, a VCSEL (vertical cavity surface-emitting laser), a Fabry Perot laser, or at lower data rates, relatively inexpensive light emitting diodes.
  • the optical emitter can be externally modulated using, for example, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer or it can be directly modulated to produce optical signals corresponding to the electrical signals received from the switching elements.
  • intermediate stage 30 may include optical receivers at its input ports and optical transmitters at its output ports.
  • the intermediate stage 30 receives signals in optical form from input stage 15, converts these signals to their electrical equivalent, performs the necessary switch processing, and transmits the signals in optical form to output stage 30 via optical fibers 39.
  • output stage 40 can also include optical receivers and transmitters at its input and output ports respectively.
  • Output stage 40 receives signals in optical form from intermediate stage 30, converts these signals to their electrical equivalent, performs the necessary switch processing and transmits the signals in optical form to output stage 30 via optical fibers 39.
  • the necessary transmitters, receivers and switching components are well known in the art.
  • the various stages of switch 10 can include a combination of electrical switching elements, having optical transmitters and receivers, and optical switching elements to form a type of hybrid switching configuration.
  • the shuffle network interconnection 100 shown in Fig. 2 in accordance with the present invention can be used for any of the above described configurations.
  • the shuffle network interconnection 100 includes a first set of optical waveguides
  • the first set of optical waveguides 105 can include a plurality of optical fibers connected at one end, for example, to intermediate stage 30 of switch 10 and at the other end to a first connector housing 115.
  • the first set of optical waveguides 105 comprise a plurality of N ribbon cables 125 arranged horizontally in an 2Nx2N array similar to books on a bookshelf.
  • the second set of waveguides 120 has a first end coupled to connector housing 115 and a second end connected, for example, to output stage 40 of optical switch 10 shown with reference to Fig. 1.
  • the set of waveguides 120 can comprise a plurality of N ribbon cables 130 stacked vertically in an 2Nx2N array. In this example, 8 ribbon cables are used where each cable includes 8 fibers 145, ...145 N to define 64 connections in an 8x8 array.
  • the first and second sets of waveguides can carry optical wavelengths, for example, within the 1.3 ⁇ m or 1.5 ⁇ m range, corresponding to minimum signal attenuation associated with silica-based fibers.
  • the first connector housing 110 and second connector housing 115 are adapted to receive one end of the first set of waveguides 105 and the second set of waveguides 120, respectively.
  • Connector housings 110 and 115 are configured such that, for example, fiber 140 N of the first set of waveguides 105 is coupled to fiber 145, of the second set of waveguides 120. Ribbon cables 125 and 130 may be used, however individual fibers or fiber cables may also be employed.
  • the use of connector housings 110 and 115 provides a suitable optical connector to couple each fiber from the first set of optical waveguides 115 to fibers included in the second set of optical waveguides 120.
  • Connector housings 110 and 115 can be combined to form a connecting unit 150 which may take on alternative embodiments.
  • connecting unit 150 may comprise a free space region 160 disposed between housings 1 10 and 115. Light traveling from the first set of waveguides 105 is directed to the second set of waveguides 120 and traverses free space region 160. Alternatively, free space region 160 may be eliminated and connector housing 110 may be coupled directly to connector housing 115.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Use Of Switch Circuits For Exchanges And Methods Of Control Of Multiplex Exchanges (AREA)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une structure d'interconnexion de commutateurs tridimensionnelle permettant de connecter un réseau de sélection comprenant un premier ensemble d'éléments de transmission optiques disposés dans une première direction; un second ensemble d'éléments de transmission optique disposés dans une seconde direction; et une unité de connexion couplant chacun des éléments de transmission du premier ensemble à un élément de transmission correspondant du second ensemble. L'utilisation de cette structure d'interconnexion conjointement à celle de câbles-rubans de fibres permet d'éviter le méli-mélo/canevas de connexions associé aux connexions de commutation antérieures.
PCT/US1999/004488 1998-03-04 1999-03-01 Interconnexion de reseaux optiques a s<u>e</u>lection aleatoire WO1999045719A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU28865/99A AU2886599A (en) 1998-03-04 1999-03-01 Optical shuffle network interconnection

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3481898A 1998-03-04 1998-03-04
US09/034,818 1998-03-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999045719A1 true WO1999045719A1 (fr) 1999-09-10

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/US1999/004488 WO1999045719A1 (fr) 1998-03-04 1999-03-01 Interconnexion de reseaux optiques a s<u>e</u>lection aleatoire

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2886599A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999045719A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1124147A2 (fr) * 2000-02-08 2001-08-16 Lucent Technologies Inc. Coupleur à fibres optiques avec connecteur optique et procédé d'interconnexion
WO2003014793A1 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-20 3M Innovative Properties Company Distributeur optique
WO2003016975A2 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-27 3M Innovative Properties Company Modules de croisement en ligne utilisant des circuits optiques tridimensionnels
US6549710B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2003-04-15 3M Innovative Properties Company Method of making a three dimensional optical circuit
WO2018175123A1 (fr) * 2017-03-22 2018-09-27 Corning Optical Communications LLC Câble optique de permutation, ensemble câble et leurs procédés de fabrication

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63200116A (ja) * 1987-02-17 1988-08-18 Fujikura Ltd 通信路線の切替方法及びその装置
EP0503849A2 (fr) * 1991-03-15 1992-09-16 AT&T Corp. Commutateur de brassage photonique
US5165104A (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-11-17 Optivideo Corporation Optical interconnecting device and method
US5185846A (en) * 1991-05-24 1993-02-09 At&T Bell Laboratories Optical fiber alignment apparatus including guiding and securing plates
JPH06332019A (ja) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-02 Fujitsu Ltd 空間光スイッチのスイッチモジュール間接続回路
US5475679A (en) * 1994-12-08 1995-12-12 Northern Telecom Limited Large capacity ATM switch
US5671304A (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-09-23 Universite Laval Two-dimensional optoelectronic tune-switch
EP0853440A2 (fr) * 1996-12-27 1998-07-15 Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation Système de brassage optique

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63200116A (ja) * 1987-02-17 1988-08-18 Fujikura Ltd 通信路線の切替方法及びその装置
US5165104A (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-11-17 Optivideo Corporation Optical interconnecting device and method
EP0503849A2 (fr) * 1991-03-15 1992-09-16 AT&T Corp. Commutateur de brassage photonique
US5185846A (en) * 1991-05-24 1993-02-09 At&T Bell Laboratories Optical fiber alignment apparatus including guiding and securing plates
JPH06332019A (ja) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-02 Fujitsu Ltd 空間光スイッチのスイッチモジュール間接続回路
US5475679A (en) * 1994-12-08 1995-12-12 Northern Telecom Limited Large capacity ATM switch
US5671304A (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-09-23 Universite Laval Two-dimensional optoelectronic tune-switch
EP0853440A2 (fr) * 1996-12-27 1998-07-15 Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation Système de brassage optique

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 012, no. 488 (P - 803) 20 December 1988 (1988-12-20) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 095, no. 003 28 April 1995 (1995-04-28) *
TOSHIAKI KATAGIRI ET AL: "NON-BLOCKING 100 X 100 OPTOMECHANICAL MATRIX SWITCH", JOURNAL OF OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS, vol. 14, no. 4, 1 August 1993 (1993-08-01), pages 122 - 127, XP000403423 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1124147A2 (fr) * 2000-02-08 2001-08-16 Lucent Technologies Inc. Coupleur à fibres optiques avec connecteur optique et procédé d'interconnexion
EP1124147A3 (fr) * 2000-02-08 2002-02-13 Lucent Technologies Inc. Coupleur à fibres optiques avec connecteur optique et procédé d'interconnexion
WO2003014793A1 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-20 3M Innovative Properties Company Distributeur optique
WO2003016975A2 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-27 3M Innovative Properties Company Modules de croisement en ligne utilisant des circuits optiques tridimensionnels
US6549710B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2003-04-15 3M Innovative Properties Company Method of making a three dimensional optical circuit
US6556754B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2003-04-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Three dimensional optical circuit
WO2003016975A3 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2003-05-30 3M Innovative Properties Co Modules de croisement en ligne utilisant des circuits optiques tridimensionnels
US6655848B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2003-12-02 3M Innovative Properties Company Method of making an optical manifold
EP1462836A2 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2004-09-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Modules de croisement en ligne utilisant des circuits optiques tridimensionnels
US6832032B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2004-12-14 3M Innovative Properties Company In-line shuffle modules utilizing three dimensional optical circuits
US6847774B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2005-01-25 3M Innovative Properties Company Three dimensional optical circuits
US6850684B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2005-02-01 3M Innovative Properties Company Three dimensional optical circuits
EP1462835A3 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2005-04-06 3M Innovative Properties Company Distributeur optique
EP1462836A3 (fr) * 2001-08-10 2005-04-06 3M Innovative Properties Company Modules de croisement en ligne utilisant des circuits optiques tridimensionnels
US7597483B2 (en) 2001-08-10 2009-10-06 3M Innovative Properties Company Optical manifold
WO2018175123A1 (fr) * 2017-03-22 2018-09-27 Corning Optical Communications LLC Câble optique de permutation, ensemble câble et leurs procédés de fabrication

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