Scalable, modular, strictly non-blocking electro-optical cross connect core
US7120328B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0056
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An OXC core uses electronic and/or optical switch elements as building blocks and a three stage interconnection architecture according to Clos theorem (Clos configuration), to achieve the strictly non-blocking condition. The hardware architecture of the OXC core is carried out with scalable, modular board elements of two kinds, one active and the other passive, as well as with a backplane interconnecting the board elements. The number of board elements determines the size of the OXC core. Elementary switching matrices belonging to each stage of the Clos configuration are all contained in the active elements. The passive elements may be exclusively electric or exclusively optical. In the all-optical case, they are comprised of optical fibers or optical waveguides. The backplane is provided for the maximum size of the OXC core, and at least one active element and three passive elements inserted into the backplane. Passive elements can be replaced at any time with further active ones.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.