Optical interconnection network

Details Optical interconnection network Optical interconnection network

1991-09-17

1993-10-12

Chilcot, Jr., Richard E.

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

Using a periodically moving element

359115, 359173, 385 24, 385 92, H04J 1402, H04B 1012, G02B 628

Patent

active

052530949

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical interconnection networks (for optically interconnecting one or more transmitter stations with one or more receiver stations).
2. Related Art
Photonics technology could play a significant role in future telecommunications and computer switching systems within which areas there will then be a requirement for large non-blocking interconnect systems, for example, which each of say 10,000 transmitters will need to be independently connectable to any one of 10,000 receivers. Such large systems are not presently commercially achievable by known optical switching systems. Further, small systems which can be achieved at the present time are not in general susceptible to ready expansion should new transmitters or receivers need to be added to the network.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical interconnection network which largely overcomes these disadvantages. According to the present invention an optical interconnection network comprises an optical signal bus and at least one module optical waveguide; the network being characterised in that the optical bus comprises a plurality of signal optical waveguides the optical signal bus and module being provided with co-operable coupling means for releasably coupling each module to the optical signal bus such that there is evanescent coupling between a module optical waveguide and a signal optical waveguide of the optical signal bus the network.
The modules provide optical coupling to or from the optical bus waveguide as required. An optical interconnection network according to the present invention can be readily extended by locating additional modules such that they are coupled to the optical bus.
A method of using an interconnection network according to the present invention comprises transmitting from at least one optical module signals which form a hierarchy of at least two independent multiplexing methods. For example, the transmitters can combine wavelength and time division multiplexing each being transmitter channel being identified by a unique combination of channels from the sets of available wavelength and time division channels. A receiver module can select the required transmitter signal by demultiplexing the hierarchy of multiplexes accordingly. Other combinations of multiplexing methods, and hierarchies greater than two may be employed.
Spatial multiplexing is readily included by providing the signal optical bus with additional waveguides, the receiver modules being provided with means for selecting a multiplex from the appropriate waveguide.
The allocation of the channels of the various multiplexes used in the hierarchy may be dedicated, i.e. fixed, for each modules, or assignable on a demand basis.
Preferably, the interconnection network will employ wavelength multiplexing as one of the hierarchy of multiplexes. This can be achieved by providing each transmitter module with a fixed or tunable source of optical radiation, for example a laser, or by providing a reference optical bus of at least two reference optical waveguides each couplable to an optical source of a distinct wavelength, each transmitter module being evanescently couplable to at least one of waveguides of the reference optical bus. The invention permits a hierarchy of wavelength, spatial and other multiplexing systems to be employed allowing a larger interconnect network to be formed than presently possible using any one of such multiplexing systems individually and the use of modules optically interfacing to the busses provides, in conjunction with the hierarchical multiplexing; a readily extendable network.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network in which present invention can be incorporated;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a second network in which the present invention can b

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