# US 2025/0146875 A1 · Cooling optical interconnects using light

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- Number: US 2025/0146875 A1
- Document ID: US20250146875A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/504,349
- Filed: 2023-11-08
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-08
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: RAFAELA FROTA; FAEZEH GHOLAMI; JOHN S. WERNER; ANDREW C. M. HICKS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250146875A1

## CPC

- G01J 5/061: by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats
- H04B 10/801: {using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections}
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for cooling optical interconnects using light include monitoring an output power of a transceiver, where the transceiver includes an alkali activated geopolymer (AAGP) coating, and cooling, based on a determination that the output power has decreased below a threshold value, the transceiver by directing infrared light towards the transceiver.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cooling optical interconnects using light, comprising:
monitoring an output power of a transceiver, wherein the transceiver includes an alkali activated geopolymer (AAGP) coating; and
cooling, based on a determination that the output power has decreased below a threshold value, the transceiver by directing infrared light towards the transceiver.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver from an infrared device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the infrared device is configured to direct the infrared light towards multiple transceivers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver from multiple angles via multiple infrared devices.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is cooled based on the infrared light and the AAGP coating.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the transceiver includes lowering the output power of the transceiver.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver for a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver until the output power increases above the threshold value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver until a temperature of the transceiver falls below a threshold temperature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the transceiver by directing the infrared light towards the transceiver is carried out based on a monitored error rate for the transceiver.

### Claim 11

A system for cooling optical interconnects using light, the system comprising:
a transceiver including an alkali activated geopolymer (AAGP) coating;
an infrared device; and
a computer processor configured to:
monitor an output power of the transceiver; and
cool, based on a determination that the output power has decreased below a threshold value, the transceiver by the infrared device directing infrared light towards the transceiver.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising multiple transceivers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the infrared device is configured to direct the infrared light towards the multiple transceivers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising multiple infrared devices, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver from multiple angles via the multiple infrared devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the transceiver is cooled based on the infrared light and the AAGP coating.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein cooling the transceiver includes lowering the output power of the transceiver.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver for a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver until the output power decreases below the threshold value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the infrared light is directed towards the transceiver until a temperature of the transceiver falls below a threshold temperature.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein cooling the transceiver by directing the infrared light towards the transceiver is carried out based on a monitored error rate for the transceiver.