IP Library Granted Patent US 8,081,876
Granted Patent B2
US 8,081,876 · App. 12/584,662 · Granted Dec 20, 2011

Optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect methodology

Assignee: Lightfleet Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,081,876
App. No.
12/584,662
Granted
Dec 20, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods are described for an optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect. A method includes operating an optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect including: fanning-out an optical signal from an optical signal emitter, of one of a plurality of nodes, with a diverging element of one of a plurality of optics; and broadcasting the optical signal to one of a plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with a light collecting and focusing element of all of the plurality of optics, wherein the plurality of optics are positioned to define an optics array, the plurality of receivers are positioned to define a receiver array that corresponds to the optics array and the plurality of nodes are positioned to define a node array that substantially corresponds to the receiver array and the optics array.

Claims (50)

1. A method, comprising operating an optical fan-out and broadcast interconnect including:

fanning-out an optical signal from an optical signal emitter, of one of a plurality of nodes, with a diverging element of one of a plurality of optics; and

broadcasting the optical signal to one of a plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with a light collecting and focusing element of all of the plurality of optics,

wherein the plurality of optics are positioned to define an optics array, the plurality of receivers are positioned to define a receiver array that corresponds to the optics array and the plurality of nodes are positioned to define a node array that substantially corresponds to the receiver array and the optics array.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reflecting the optical signal from a reflective structure after fanning-out and before broadcasting.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

fanning-out another optical signal; and

broadcasting the another optical signal to one of the plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with the light collecting and focusing element of all of the plurality of optics,

wherein the two optical signals are characterized by two different wavelengths.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

transmitting the optical signal through a distribution mirror; and

broadcasting the optical signal to one of another plurality of receivers of all of another plurality of nodes with another light collecting and focusing element of all of another plurality of optics.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the distribution mirror includes a partially reflective mirror.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the optical signal includes a wavefront.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wavefront includes information.

8. A method, comprising operating a lightnode including:

fanning-out an optical signal through a diverging element;

broadcasting the optical signal through a light collecting and focusing element; and

receiving the optical signal with one of a plurality of receivers,

wherein the plurality of receivers are positioned to define a receiver array.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the light collecting and focusing element is one of a plurality of optics that define an optics array that substantially corresponds to the receiver array.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising reflecting the optical signal from a reflective structure after fanning-out and before broadcasting.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising

fanning-out another optical signal;

broadcasting the another optical signal through the light collecting and focusing element; and

receiving the another optical signal with the plurality of receivers.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the another optical signal is received by the one of the plurality of receivers.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the two optical signals are characterized by two different wavelengths.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising

transmitting the optical signal through a distribution mirror, and

broadcasting the optical signal to one of another plurality of receivers of all of a plurality of nodes with another light collecting and focusing element of all of a plurality of optics.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the distribution mirror includes a partially reflective mirror.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the optical signal includes a wavefront.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wavefront includes information.

18. A method, comprising operating a fan-out and broadcast interconnect including:

fanning-out a signal from a signal emitter, of one of a plurality of nodes, with a diverging element of one of a plurality of fan-out and broadcast structures; and

broadcasting the signal to one of a plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with a converging element of all of the plurality of fan-out and broadcast structures,

wherein the plurality of fan-out and broadcast structures are positioned to define a fan-out and broadcast structure array, the plurality of receivers are positioned to define a receiver array that corresponds to the fan-out and broadcast structure array and the plurality of nodes are positioned to define a node array that substantially corresponds to the receiver array and the fan-out and broadcast structure array.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of an acoustical signal; an electrical signal, a radio frequency signal and an optical signal.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising reflecting the signal from a reflective structure after fanning-out and before broadcasting.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising

fanning-out another signal; and

broadcasting the another signal to one of the plurality of receivers of all of the plurality of nodes with the converging element of all of the plurality of fan-out and broadcast structures,

wherein the two signals are characterized by two different wavelengths.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising

transmitting the signal through a distribution structure; and

broadcasting the signal to one of another plurality of receivers of all of another plurality of nodes with another converging element of all of another plurality of fan-out and broadcast structures.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein signal includes an optical signal and the distribution structure includes a partially reflective mirror.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal includes a wavefront.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the wavefront includes information.

Assignments (3)
BILL OF SALE FOLLOWING SALE IN FORECLOSURE Recorded Nov 29, 2023
From: HANSON, BROOKE
To: HANSON, BROOKE
Reel/Frame 065713/0113 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2023
From: LIGHTFLET CORPORATION
To: HANSON, BROOK
Reel/Frame 063749/0119 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2011
From: DRESS, WILLIAM B; DONOVAN, BRIAN T; HOWARD, JAMES E
To: LIGHTFLEET CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026564/0275 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 12287582 · Oct 10, 2008
Division 10702227 · Nov 5, 2003
Provisional Application 60423939 · Nov 5, 2002
Provisional Application 60432141 · Dec 10, 2002
Related Publication 20100003029A1 · Jan 7, 2010