Methods and systems relating to optical networks
Data center interconnections, which encompass WSCs as well as traditional data centers, have become both a bottleneck and a cost/power issue for cloud computing providers, cloud service providers and the users of the cloud generally. Fiber optic technologies already play critical roles in data center operations and will increasingly in the future. The goal is to move data as fast as possible with the lowest latency with the lowest cost and the smallest space consumption on the server blade and throughout the network. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for new fiber optic interconnection architectures to address the traditional hierarchical time-division multiplexed (TDM) routing and interconnection and provide reduced latency, increased flexibility, lower cost, lower power consumption, and provide interconnections exploiting N×M×D Gbps photonic interconnects wherein N channels are provided each carrying M wavelength division signals at D Gbps.
1. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing an N wavelength demultiplexer for N channels according to a predetermined channel plan and comprising an input port and N output ports;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a N wavelength multiplexer according to the predetermined channel plan and comprising an output port and N input ports;
a plurality of M third pluggable modules, each third pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M fourth pluggable modules, each fourth pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver;
N MxM passive cross-connects each MxM passive cross-connect comprising M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each third pluggable module of the plurality of M third pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of a predetermined first pluggable modules of the plurality of M first pluggable modules;
each fourth pluggable module of the plurality of M fourth pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of a predetermined second pluggable modules of the plurality of M second pluggable modules;
each R th output of each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined R th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
each S th input of each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined S th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
N≥2, 1≤M≤N, 1≤R≤N and 1≤S≤N;
N, M, R and S are integers;
each third pluggable module of the plurality of third pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing; and
a MEMS based tunable optical emitter comprising:
a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) forming a wavelength selective filter within an optically resonant cavity of the MEMS based tunable optical emitter in conjunction with an optical amplifier; and
the optical amplifier having a first low reflectivity facet optically coupled to the first rotatable MOEMS and a high reflectivity facer optically coupled to the output of the third pluggable module of the plurality of third pluggable modules; wherein
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a substrate;
a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the substrate comprising:
a beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a pivot disposed at the second distal end of the beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the pivot and a second portion running along the beam from the pivot to the first free end of the beam; and
a plurality of wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the MOEMS element and optically coupled to the MOEMS element; wherein
the MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the rotatable MOEMS element.
2. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver; and
an MxM passive cross-connect having M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
N≥2 and 1≤M≤N;
N and M are integers;
each first pluggable module of the plurality of first pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing; and
a MEMS based tunable optical emitter comprising:
a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) forming a wavelength selective filter within an optically resonant cavity of the MEMS based tunable optical emitter in conjunction with an optical amplifier; and
the optical amplifier having a first low reflectivity facet optically coupled to the first rotatable MOEMS and a high reflectivity facer optically coupled to the output of the first pluggable module of the plurality of first pluggable modules; wherein
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a substrate;
a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the substrate comprising:
a beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a pivot disposed at the second distal end of the beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the rotatable MOEMS is formed; and
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the pivot and a second portion running along the beam from the pivot to the first free end of the beam; and
a plurality of wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the MOEMS element and optically coupled to the MOEMS element; wherein
the MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the rotatable MOEMS element.
3. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing an N wavelength demultiplexer for N channels according to a predetermined channel plan and comprising an input port and N output ports;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a N wavelength multiplexer according to the predetermined channel plan and comprising an output port and N input ports;
a plurality of M third pluggable modules, each third pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M fourth pluggable modules, each fourth pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver;
N MxM passive cross-connects each MxM passive cross-connect comprising M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each third pluggable module of the plurality of M third pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of a predetermined first pluggable modules of the plurality of M first pluggable modules;
each fourth pluggable module of the plurality of M fourth pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of a predetermined second pluggable modules of the plurality of M second pluggable modules;
each R th output of each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined R th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
each S th input of each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined S th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
N≥2, 1≤M≤N, 1≤R≤N and 1≤S≤N;
N, M, R and S are integers;
each fourth pluggable module of the plurality of fourth pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing;
an optical circulator having a first port, a second port, and a third port wherein optical signals coupled into the first port are only coupled to the second port and optical signals coupled into the second port are only coupled to the third port;
a programmable wavelength demultiplexer comprising a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS); and
a receiver circuit comprising a plurality of photodetectors; wherein
the first port is coupled to an input port of the fourth pluggable module
the second port is coupled to the programmable wavelength demultiplexer;
the programmable wavelength demultiplexer selects a predetermined subset of optical wavelengths from those received at the input port of the fourth pluggable module; and
the predetermined subset of optical wavelengths are coupled to the receiver circuit via optical circulator; and
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a substrate;
a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the substrate comprising:
a beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a pivot disposed at the second distal end of the beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the pivot and a second portion running along the beam from the pivot to the first free end of the beam; and
a plurality of wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the MOEMS element and optically coupled to the MOEMS element; wherein
the MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the rotatable MOEMS element.
4. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing an N wavelength demultiplexer for N channels according to a predetermined channel plan and comprising an input port and N output ports;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a N wavelength multiplexer according to the predetermined channel plan and comprising an output port and N input ports;
a plurality of M third pluggable modules, each third pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M fourth pluggable modules, each fourth pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver;
N MxM passive cross-connects each MxM passive cross-connect comprising M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each third pluggable module of the plurality of M third pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of a predetermined first pluggable modules of the plurality of M first pluggable modules;
each fourth pluggable module of the plurality of M fourth pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of a predetermined second pluggable modules of the plurality of M second pluggable modules;
each R th output of each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined R th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
each S th input of each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to a predetermined S th MxM passive cross-connect of the N MxM passive cross-connects;
N≥2, 1≤M≤N, 1≤R≤N and 1≤S≤N;
N, M, R and S are integers;
each fourth pluggable module of the plurality of fourth pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing;
an optical circulator having a first port, a second port, and a third port wherein optical signals coupled into the first port are only coupled to the second port and optical signals coupled into the second port are only coupled to the third port;
a programmable wavelength demultiplexer comprising a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS); and
a receiver circuit comprising a plurality of photodetectors; wherein
the first port is coupled to an input port of the fourth pluggable module
the second port is coupled to the programmable wavelength demultiplexer;
the programmable wavelength demultiplexer selects a predetermined subset of optical wavelengths from those received at the input port of the fourth pluggable module; and
the predetermined subset of optical wavelengths are coupled to the receiver circuit via optical circulator;
each third pluggable module of the plurality of third pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing; and
a MEMS based tunable optical emitter comprising:
a second rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) forming a wavelength selective filter within an optically resonant cavity of the MEMS based tunable optical emitter in conjunction with an optical amplifier; and
the optical amplifier having a first low reflectivity facet optically coupled to the second rotatable MOEMS and a high reflectivity facer optically coupled to the output of the third pluggable module of the plurality of third pluggable modules;
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a first substrate;
a first microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the first substrate comprising:
a first beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a first pivot disposed at the second distal end of the first beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the first rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the first pivot and a second portion running along the first beam from the first pivot to the first free end of the first beam; and
a plurality of first wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the first substrate, each first wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of first wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the first MOEMS element and optically coupled to the first MOEMS element; wherein
the first MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined first wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of first wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the first rotatable MOEMS element; and
the second rotatable MEMS comprises:
a second substrate;
a second microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the second substrate comprising:
a second beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a second microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a second pivot disposed at the second distal end of the second beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the second rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a second optical waveguide having a first portion upon the second pivot and a second portion running along the second beam from the second pivot to the first free end of the second beam; and
a plurality of second wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each second wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of second wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the second MOEMS element and optically coupled to the second MOEMS element; wherein
the second MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the second optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined second wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of second wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the second rotatable MOEMS element.
5. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver; and
an MxM passive cross-connect having M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
N≤2 and 1≤M≤N;
N and M are integers;
each second pluggable module of the plurality of second pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing;
an optical circulator having a first port, a second port, and a third port wherein optical signals coupled into the first port are only coupled to the second port and optical signals coupled into the second port are only coupled to the third port;
a programmable wavelength demultiplexer comprising a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS); and
a receiver circuit comprising a plurality of photodetectors; wherein
the first port is coupled to an input port of the second pluggable module
the second port is coupled to the programmable wavelength demultiplexer;
the programmable wavelength demultiplexer selects a predetermined subset of optical wavelengths from those received at the input port of the second pluggable module; and
the predetermined subset of optical wavelengths are coupled to the receiver circuit via optical circulator; and
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a substrate;
a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the substrate comprising:
a beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a pivot disposed at the second distal end of the beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the pivot and a second portion running along the beam from the pivot to the first free end of the beam; and
a plurality of wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the MOEMS element and optically coupled to the MOEMS element; wherein
the MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the rotatable MOEMS element.
6. An optical network comprising:
a plurality of M first pluggable modules, each first pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable transmitter which can be set to operate at a wavelength associated with a channel of the N channels;
a plurality of M second pluggable modules, each second pluggable module providing a wavelength tunable receiver; and
an MxM passive cross-connect having M input ports and M output ports and distributing optical signals received at each input port of the M input ports to the M output ports; wherein
each first pluggable module of the plurality of M first pluggable modules is coupled to an input port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
each second pluggable module of the plurality of M second pluggable modules is coupled to an output port of the MxM passive optical cross-connect;
N≥2 and 1≤M≤N;
N and M are integers;
each second pluggable module of the plurality of second pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing;
an optical circulator having a first port, a second port, and a third port wherein optical signals coupled into the first port are only coupled to the second port and optical signals coupled into the second port are only coupled to the third port;
a programmable wavelength demultiplexer comprising a first rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS); and
a receiver circuit comprising a plurality of photodetectors; wherein
the first port is coupled to an input port of the second pluggable module
the second port is coupled to the programmable wavelength demultiplexer;
the programmable wavelength demultiplexer selects a predetermined subset of optical wavelengths from those received at the input port of the second pluggable module; and
the predetermined subset of optical wavelengths are coupled to the receiver circuit via optical circulator;
each first pluggable module of the plurality of first pluggable modules comprises:
a first pluggable optic housing; and
a MEMS based tunable optical emitter comprising:
a second rotatable microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) forming a wavelength selective filter within an optically resonant cavity of the MEMS based tunable optical emitter in conjunction with an optical amplifier; and
the optical amplifier having a first low reflectivity facet optically coupled to the second rotatable MOEMS and a high reflectivity facer optically coupled to the output of the first pluggable module of the plurality of first pluggable modules;
the first rotatable MOEMS comprises
a first substrate;
a first microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the first substrate comprising:
a first beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a first pivot disposed at the second distal end of the first beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the first rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a first optical waveguide having a first portion upon the first pivot and a second portion running along the first beam from the first pivot to the first free end of the first beam; and
a plurality of first wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the first substrate, each first wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of first wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the first MOEMS element and optically coupled to the first MOEMS element; wherein
the first MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the first optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined first wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of first wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the first rotatable MOEMS element; and
the second rotatable MEMS comprises:
a second substrate;
a second microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) element integrated upon the second substrate comprising:
a second beam having a first free end and a second distal end coupled to a second microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator;
a second pivot disposed at the second distal end of the second beam comprising a structure attached to a second substrate upon which the second rotatable MOEMS is formed;
a second optical waveguide having a first portion upon the second pivot and a second portion running along the second beam from the second pivot to the first free end of the second beam; and
a plurality of second wavelength reflective filters integrated upon the second substrate, each second wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of second wavelength reflective filters having a first end disposed in a second predetermined position relative to the second MOEMS element and optically coupled to the second MOEMS element; wherein
the second MOEMS element optically couples optical signals from and to the second optical waveguide which are coupled to and from a predetermined second wavelength reflective filter of the plurality of second wavelength reflective filters which is selected in dependence upon the rotation of the second rotatable MOEMS element.