Optical buffer and methods for storing optical signal

An optical buffer comprising:

• a first waveguide comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein a first end of the first arm is an input end of the optical buffer, wherein a second end of the first arm connects to a first end of the second arm, wherein a second end of the second arm is an output end of the optical buffer, and wherein the first waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal at the first end of the first arm;
• a first optical delay waveguide loop, wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the first arm of the first waveguide at a first end of the first arm using a first optical switch, and wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the second arm of the first waveguide at the second end of the second arm using a second optical switch;
• a controller coupled to the first optical switch and the second optical switch, wherein the controller is configured to:
• turn on the first optical switch to allow the first optical signal to enter the first optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered;
• and
• turn on the second optical switch to allow the first buffered optical signal to exit the second arm of the first waveguide at the output end when the first optical signal is needed to be output;
• a second waveguide;
• and
• a beamsplitter disposed at the input end of the optical buffer, wherein one end of the second waveguide is configured to connect to the beamsplitter, wherein another end of the second waveguide is configured to connect to the controller, wherein the beamsplitter is configured to:
• obtain a part of the first optical signal by splitting the first optical signal received from the first end of the first arm;
• and
• transfer the part of the first optical signal to the controller through the second waveguide, and
• wherein the controller is further configured to:
• obtain a destination address of the first optical signal by parsing the part of the first optical signal;
• and
• store a mapping relationship between the destination address and the first optical delay waveguide loop after turning on the first optical switch.

An optical buffer comprising:

• a first optical delay waveguide loop;
• a second optical delay waveguide loop;
• a controller;
• and
• a first waveguide comprising an input arm and an exit arm directly connected to the input arm,
• wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop comprises a first input switch connected to the input arm and a first exit switch connected to the exit arm,
• wherein the second optical delay waveguide loop comprises a second input switch connected to the input arm and a second exit switch connected to the exit arm,
• wherein the first waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal and a second optical signal at the input arm,
• wherein the controller is coupled to the first input switch, the second input switch, the first exit switch, and the second exit switch, and
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• turn on the first input switch to allow the first optical signal to travel from the input arm to the first optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered;
• turn on the first exit switch to allow the first buffered optical signal to exit through the exit arm;
• turn on the second input switch to allow the second optical signal to travel from the input arm to the second optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered;
• and
• turn on the second exit switch to allow the second buffered optical signal to exit through the exit arm.

An optical buffer comprising:

• a first optical delay waveguide loop;
• a first waveguide comprising an input arm and an exit arm directly connected to the input arm;
• a controller;
• a second waveguide;
• and
• a beamsplitter disposed at the input arm,
• wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop comprises a first input switch connected to the input arm and a first exit switch connected to the exit arm,
• wherein the first waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal at the input arm,
• wherein the beamsplitter connects to the controller through the second waveguide,
• wherein the beamsplitter is configured to:
• obtain a part of the first optical signal by splitting the first optical signal received from the input arm;
• and
• transfer the part of the first optical signal to the controller through the second waveguide, and
• wherein the controller is coupled to the first input switch and the first exit switch, and
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• turn on the first input switch to allow the first optical signal to travel from the input arm to the first optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered;
• turn on the first exit switch to allow the first buffered optical signal to exit through the exit arm;
• obtain a destination address of the first optical signal by parsing the part of the first optical signal;
• and
• store a mapping relationship between the destination address and the first optical delay waveguide loop after turning on the first optical switch.

A method for storing an optical signal using an optical buffer, wherein the optical buffer comprises a first waveguide, a second optical delay waveguide loop, a first optical delay waveguide loop, and a controller, and wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, by the first waveguide, a first optical signal at a first end of a first arm of the first waveguide, wherein the first waveguide comprises the first arm and a second arm, wherein the first end of the first arm is an input end of the optical buffer, wherein a second end of the first arm connects to a first end of the second arm, and wherein a second end of the second arm is an output end of the optical buffer;
• turning on, by the controller, a first optical switch to allow the first optical signal to enter the first optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered, wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the first arm of the first waveguide at the first end of the first arm using the first optical switch;
• turning on, by the controller, a second optical switch to allow the first buffered optical signal to exit the second arm of the first waveguide at the output end when the first optical signal is needed to be output, wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the second arm of the first waveguide at the second end of the second arm using the second optical switch;
• receiving, by the first waveguide, a second optical signal at the first end of the first arm of the first waveguide;
• turning on, by the controller, a third optical switch to allow the second optical signal to enter the second optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered, wherein the second optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the first arm of the first waveguide at the first end of the first arm using the third optical switch;
• and
• turning on, by the controller, a fourth optical switch to allow the second buffered optical signal to exit the second arm of the first waveguide at the output end when the second optical signal is needed to be output, wherein the second optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the second arm of the first waveguide at the second end of the second arm using the fourth optical switch.

A method for storing an optical signal using an optical buffer, wherein the optical buffer comprises a first waveguide, a first optical delay waveguide loop, a controller, a second waveguide, and a beamsplitter disposed at an input end of the optical buffer, wherein one end of the second waveguide connects to the beamsplitter, wherein another end of the second waveguide connects to the controller, and wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, by the first waveguide, a first optical signal at a first end of a first arm of the first waveguide, wherein the first waveguide comprises the first arm and a second arm, wherein the first end of the first arm is the input end of the optical buffer, wherein a second end of the first arm connects to a first end of the second arm, and wherein a second end of the second arm is an output end of the optical buffer;
• turning on, by the controller, a first optical switch to allow the first optical signal to enter the first optical delay waveguide loop and be buffered, wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the first arm of the first waveguide at the first end of the first arm using the first optical switch;
• turning on, by the controller, a second optical switch to allow the first buffered optical signal to exit the second arm of the first waveguide at the output end when the first optical signal is needed to be output, wherein the first optical delay waveguide loop is connected to the second arm of the first waveguide at the second end of the second arm using the second optical switch;
• obtaining, by the beamsplitter, a part of the first optical signal by splitting the first optical signal received from the first end of the first arm;
• transferring, by the beamsplitter, the part of the first optical signal to the controller through the second waveguide;
• obtaining, by the controller, a destination address of the first optical signal by parsing the part of the first optical signal;
• and
• storing, by the controller, a mapping relationship between the destination address and the first optical delay waveguide loop after turning on the first optical switch.