Butterfly optical network with crossing-free switches
AssigneeOracle International Corporation
InventorsHerbert D. Schwetman, Jr., Michael O. McCracken, Pranay Koka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a multi-chip module (MCM), optical waveguides in a first plane convey modulated optical signals among integrated circuits (which are sometimes referred to as ‘chips’). Moreover, an optical-butterfly switch, optically coupled to the optical waveguides, dynamically allocates communication bandwidth among the integrated circuits. This optical-butterfly switch includes optical components in the first plane and a second plane, and optical couplers that couple the modulated optical signals to and from the first plane and the second plane. In this way, the MCM communicates the modulated optical signals among the integrated circuits without optical-waveguide crossings in a given plane.
Claims20
A multi-chip module (MCM), comprising:
- integrated circuits configured to perform electrical-to-optical conversion based on data to provide modulated optical signals, and configured to receive data in the modulated optical signals by performing optical-to-electrical conversion;
- optical waveguides, in a first plane, configured to convey the modulated optical signals among the integrated circuits;
- and
- a crossing-free optical-butterfly switch, optically coupled to the optical waveguides, configured to dynamically allocate communication bandwidth among the integrated circuits, wherein the optical-butterfly switch comprises optical components in the first plane and a second plane, and optical couplers configured to couple the modulated optical signals to and from the first plane and the second plane, wherein all optical switches in the crossing-free optical-butterfly switch are located in a same plane;
- and
- wherein the MCM is configured to communicate the modulated optical signals among the integrated circuits without optical-waveguide crossings in a given plane.
A system, comprising:
- a set of light sources configured to output optical signals having carrier wavelengths;
- and
- a multi-chip module (MCM) optically coupled to the set of light sources, wherein the MCM comprises:
- integrated circuits configured to:
- receive the optical signals, perform electrical-to-optical conversion based on data to provide modulated optical signals, and receive data in the modulated optical signals by performing optical-to-electrical conversion;
- optical waveguides, in a first plane, configured to convey the modulated optical signals among the integrated circuits;
- and
- a crossing-free optical-butterfly switch, optically coupled to the optical waveguides, configured to dynamically allocate communication bandwidth among the integrated circuits, wherein the optical-butterfly switch comprises optical components in the first plane and a second plane, and optical couplers configured to couple the modulated optical signals to and from the first plane and the second plane, wherein all optical switches in the crossing-free optical-butterfly switch are located in a same plane;
- and
- wherein the MCM is configured to communicate the modulated optical signals among the integrated circuits without optical-waveguide crossings in a given plane.
A method for optically communicating information among integrated circuits in an MCM, the method comprising:
- configuring a crossing-free optical-butterfly switch to dynamically allocate communication bandwidth among the integrated circuits;
- and
- routing modulated optical signals that include the information among the integrated circuits using the optical-butterfly switch, wherein the optical-butterfly switch is implemented using optical components in a first plane and a second plane, and optical couplers that couple the modulated optical signals to and from the first plane and the second plane, wherein all optical switches in the crossing-free optical-butterfly switch are located in a same plane;
- and
- wherein the modulated optical signals are communicated among the integrated circuits without optical-waveguide crossings in a given plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.