U.S. patent application number 14/883504 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for photonic waveguide.
The applicant listed for this patent is HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Gary Gostin, Terrel Morris, Eric Peterson.
Application Number | 20160195679 14/883504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42316678 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160195679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morris; Terrel ; et
al. |
July 7, 2016 |
PHOTONIC WAVEGUIDE
Abstract
The system provides a photonic waveguide formed on a substrate
and a plurality of steering mirrors within the photonic waveguide.
The steering mirrors can be configured to direct a light beam
between two or more computing components. A plurality of steering
mirror supports are located within the waveguide having preset
locations. The steering mirror supports are configured to enable
the steering mirrors to be selectively repositioned at the preset
steering mirror supports within the photonic waveguide to create
varying configurations. The steering mirrors in the varying
configurations direct one or more optical beams to form multiple
connectivity channels between computing components within the
photonic waveguide.
Inventors: |
Morris; Terrel; (Plano,
TX) ; Gostin; Gary; (Plano, TX) ; Peterson;
Eric; (Redman, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
42316678 |
Appl. No.: |
14/883504 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13143649 |
Jul 7, 2011 |
9274297 |
|
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PCT/US09/30348 |
Jan 7, 2009 |
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14883504 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/3512 20130101;
G02B 6/3596 20130101; G02B 6/4214 20130101; G02B 6/428 20130101;
G02B 6/2938 20130101; G02B 6/10 20130101; G02B 6/43 20130101; G02B
6/12004 20130101; G02B 2006/12104 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/35 20060101
G02B006/35; G02B 6/42 20060101 G02B006/42; G02B 6/12 20060101
G02B006/12 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. An optical module, comprising: a photonic waveguide formed on a
substrate; a plurality of steering mirrors within the photonic
waveguide, configured to direct an optical beam between two or more
computing components; a plurality of steering mirror supports
wherein the steering mirrors are removably positioned on the
steering mirror supports and wherein the steering mirrors in
varying communication configurations direct the optical beam to
form at least one communication channel between computing
components within the photonic waveguide.
7. An optical module in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
steering mirrors are manually relocatable at the steering mirror
supports.
8. An optical module in accordance with claim 6, wherein one or
more steering mirrors may be removed or added to the photonic
waveguide to change communication connectivity of the optical beam
between computing components.
9. An optical module in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
photonic waveguide is removably attachable to a computing
component.
10. An optical module in accordance with claim 9, wherein the
photonic waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide
that is replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic
waveguide having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a
different configuration within the second photonic waveguide than
steering mirrors within the first photonic waveguide.
11. An optical module in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
photonic waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and
oriented in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the
circuit board.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. An optical module in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
plurality of steering mirror supports have permanently fixed
locations within the photonic waveguide.
17. A computing system comprising: an optical signal beam; a
plurality of computing components coupled to at least one circuit
board; a photonic waveguide having a plurality of steering mirror
supports; and at least one steering mirror removably mounted on a
first steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror
supports, wherein the steering mirror is removable from the first
steering mirror support and mountable on a different steering
mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror supports.
18. A computing system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the
photonic waveguide is removably attachable to a computing
component.
19. A computing system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the
photonic waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide
that is replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic
waveguide having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a
different configuration within the second photonic waveguide than
steering mirrors within the first photonic waveguide.
20. A computing system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the
photonic waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and
oriented in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the
circuit board.
21. A computing system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the
plurality of steering mirror supports have permanently fixed
locations within the photonic waveguide.
22. A method, comprising: attaching a photonic waveguide to a
plurality of computing components, the photonic waveguide having a
plurality of steering mirror supports in preset fixed locations
within the photonic waveguide; removably positioning a first
steering mirror on a first steering mirror support of the plurality
of steering mirror supports to form a first communication channel
between computing components within the photonic waveguide;
removing the steering mirror from the first the steering mirrors
support; and removably positioning a second steering mirror on a
second steering mirror support of the plurality of steering mirror
supports to form a second communication channel between computing
components within the photonic waveguide.
23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the first
steering mirror and the second steering mirror are the same
steering mirror.
24. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the steering
mirrors are manually relocatable at the steering mirror
supports.
25. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein one or more
steering mirrors may be removed or added to the photonic waveguide
to change communication connectivity of the optical beam between
computing components.
26. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the photonic
waveguide is removably attachable to a computing component.
27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the photonic
waveguide further comprises a first photonic waveguide that is
replaceable with a removably attachable second photonic waveguide
having a plurality of steering mirrors positioned in a different
configuration within the second photonic waveguide than steering
mirrors within the first photonic waveguide.
28. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the photonic
waveguide is attachable to any side of a circuit board and oriented
in any direction with respect to a planar surface of the circuit
board.
29. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the plurality of
steering mirror supports have permanently fixed locations within
the photonic waveguide.
Description
[0001] This patent application is a divisional application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/143,649, filed Jul. 7, 2011, titled
"PHOTONIC WAVEGUIDE," which is a national stage application of PCT
Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/030348, filed Jan. 7, 2009, the
relevant contents of each of these applications herein being
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As computer chip speeds on circuit boards increase,
communications bottlenecks in inter-chip communication are becoming
a larger problem. One possible solution is to use fiber optics to
interconnect high speed computer chips. However, most circuit
boards involve many material layers and the tolerances employed in
their manufacture is not consistent with the needs of optical
interfaces. The alignment tolerance of fibers to interconnecting
interfaces is generally in the range of microns. Physically placing
fiber optics and connecting the fibers to the chips can be
inaccurate and time consuming in circuit board manufacturing
processes. Routing the optical signals around and between circuit
boards can add significant additional complexity. Marketable
optical interconnects between computing components have proven
elusive, despite the need for broadband data transfer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a reconfigurable
photonic waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a photonic
waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0005] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a photonic
waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a photonic
waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 5 is a topology map a photonic waveguide in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention cross-sectional side
view of a photonic waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0008] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a photonic
waveguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)
[0009] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together
illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention. Reference
will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and
specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will
nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
invention is thereby intended.
[0010] One configuration for forming optical interconnects between
computer chips on a circuit board is to use optical waveguides that
are not formed on the circuit board during manufacture, but are
added to the circuit board after it is manufactured. Optical
waveguides can be superior to fiber optic communications for
interconnecting electronics in such an assembly because of the
ability to form the waveguides using lithographic, injection
molding, or similar accurate processes. One embodiment of the
waveguides is typically formed with substantially optically
transparent material, such as polymers and/or glass
dielectrics.
[0011] An alternative to traditional optical waveguides formed
using polymers or glass dielectric materials is the use of a large
core hollow waveguide 110 configured to guide coherent light 140,
as shown in FIG. 1. It is noted that the air in the large core
hollow waveguide is also a dielectric. The large core hollow
waveguide can have a diameter (or width and/or height) on the order
of 50 to 150 or more times a wavelength of the coherent light the
waveguide is configured to guide. The large core hollow waveguide
can have a cross-sectional shape that is square, rectangular,
round, elliptical, or some other shape configured to guide an
optical signal. Furthermore, because the waveguide is hollow, the
light essentially travels at the speed of light in air or a
vacuum.
[0012] A laser may emit an optical beam or signal 140 into a
waveguide section 110. The optical beam or signal may bounce
between the walls of the waveguide. At each reflection, a
substantial loss of the beam may occur. In order to decrease loss
within the waveguide, a reflective coating may be added to cover an
interior of the waveguide. The reflective coating can be formed
using a plating, sputtering, or similar process, as can be
appreciated. If the hollow waveguide comprises a polymer or other
material with a low melting point, the reflective coating may be
applied using a low temperature process such as sputtering,
electroplating or thermal evaporation.
[0013] The reflective coating can be comprised of one or more
layers of metal, dielectrics, or other materials that are
substantially reflective at the wavelength of the coherent light.
The metals can be selected based on their reflectivity. A highly
reflective layer covering the channel is desired. For example, the
reflective layer may be formed using silver, gold, aluminum, or
some other metal or alloy that can form the highly reflective
layer. Alternatively, the reflective layer may be a dielectric
stack which can be formed from one or more layers of dielectric
material that is substantially reflective at a selected wavelength.
Before the reflective layer is deposited, the uncoated hollow
channel may be subject to a heat reflow to smooth out any surface
roughness. A number of manufacturing techniques, including but not
limited to, heat reflow or electro-polishing may be used to smooth
surface roughness in the reflective layer that may occur during the
deposition process.
[0014] If the hollow metallized waveguide is not hermetically
sealed, the reflective coating may oxidize over time. Oxidation of
the reflective coating can substantially reduce its reflectivity.
To reduce or eliminate degradation of the metal coating's
reflectivity, a protective layer can be formed over the reflective
coating. The protective layer can comprise a material that is
substantially transparent at the wavelength of the coherent light.
For example, the protective layer can be formed of silicon dioxide
or some other material that can form a substantially air tight bond
over the reflective coating. This protective layer will also reduce
the propagation loss by further separating the propagating light
from the lossy reflective layer.
[0015] Hollow waveguides having reflective surfaces operate
differently than solid waveguides. Hollow waveguides work using the
principle of attenuated total internal reflection for guiding light
by reflection from the reflective layer(s) and not through total
internal reflection between a higher index core region and a lower
index cladding region, as typically occurs in solid waveguides such
as an optical fiber. The light within the hollow waveguide may be
reflected at incident angles of less than what is necessary for
total internal reflection, as can be appreciated.
[0016] Some previous waveguide structures have used
actively-steered-architectures. Some of the drawbacks to these
architectures are the high cost and the size of such structures.
Further, previous waveguide structures have required changes to the
base midplane or backplane in order to use the structure with the
midplane or backplane. A backplane is usually a circuit board that
connects several computing components or blades to each other,
forming a bus or multiple point-to-point connections, so that each
computing component is linked to all of the other computing
components. A backplane may be used as a backbone to connect
several printed circuit boards together to make up a complete
computer system. A midplane is a circuit board similar to a
backplane, but whereas cards and devices connect to only one side
of a backplane, a midplane has cards and devices connected to both
sides. This ability to plug cards into either side of a midplane is
often useful in larger systems made up primarily of modules
attached to the midplane. Midplanes are used in computers, mostly
in blade servers, where server blades reside on one side and the
peripheral (power, networking, and other I/O) and service modules
reside on the other. Midplanes are also popular in networking and
telecommunications equipment where one side of the chassis accepts
system processing cards and the other side of the chassis accepts
network interface cards.
[0017] In previous solutions, changing connectivity between
components meant changing the backplane or midplane. Backplanes or
midplanes can be difficult to replace or exchange. The industry has
long sought a feasible, economical, and manufacturable optical
backplane. Some of the problems the industry has grappled with
include the lack of an effective and manufacturable 90 degree
turning solution for embedded fibers, excessive losses in polymer
or plaster fiber waveguides, and single-set connectivity per
backplane which limits configurability of the final solution.
Whether electrical or optical interconnectivity, blade to blade or
board to board computing communication has been limited in speed,
density, power, distance, and signal quality. Generally additional
firmware or software is also required to program connections
between the blades.
[0018] This system can provide a photonic waveguide module,
including a hollow core metal waveguide, which is low-cost,
utilizes passive fixed steering mirrors, and has multiple potential
system interconnection configurations. Installation of the
waveguide module requires no changes to the midplane or the
backplane. This solution utilizes a hollow metal waveguide
structure in a point-to-point modular configuration to provide
deterministic connectivity or communication channels between
computing components. These computing components may be located on
blades or boards plugged into a backplane or midplane. The module
can be configured with a variety of connectivity options, thus
enabling a single backplane and mechanical enclosure to serve many
potential module configurations. The module can require no
additional firmware or software for programming connections and can
overcome many other limitations of prior electrical devices, such
as limitations in speed, distance, density, power, or signal
quality. In some embodiments, the optical waveguides disclosed in
this application are formed on substrates using lithographic or
similar processes.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a photonic waveguide module 100 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A hollow
core metal photonic waveguide 110 is provided, which may be formed
on a substrate and as described above. Within the photonic
waveguide is a plurality of steering mirrors 130 to steer an
optical beam or optical signal 140. An optical signal may be
generated at an optical source module 170, or optical transmitter
on a computing component 160, which may be encased in a blade
enclosure 180, such as one made of sheet metal. (As used herein, an
optical source module is a module that is capable of transmitting
or receiving or both transmitting and receiving an optical signal
or optical beam). The optical signal is directed toward one of the
steering mirrors in the waveguide where it is reflected off the
mirror to travel a distance longitudinally along the waveguide.
Positioned within the waveguide is at least one other steering
mirror which is configured to receive and reflect the optical
signal from the waveguide to an optical receiver module or optical
receiver on a different computing component. In this way, an
optical signal can travel through the waveguide from one computing
component to another to provide a fast and efficient optical
communication between the computing components.
[0020] In one embodiment, the plurality of steering mirrors 130 may
include one or more partially reflective steering mirrors 150. The
partially reflective steering mirror can be configured to allow a
portion of the optical signal 140 to pass through the partially
reflective steering mirror, while reflecting another portion of the
optical signal to an optical receiver module 170 or optical
receiving unit on a computing component. An optical signal may be
partially reflected by a variety of methods as are known in the
art. Some examples include using polarizing mirrors, partially
transparent mirrors, frequency dependent mirrors, or an area-based
optical splitter.
[0021] The partially reflective mirrors 150 may be configured to
provide a desired amount of power to each of the computing
components to which the optical signal 140 is directed after it is
split. For example, a mirror may split the beam such that a first
split beam contains approximately 25% of the power of the original
optical signal and a second split beam contains approximately 75%
of the power of the original optical signal.
[0022] A photonic waveguide module 100 may comprise optical
pathways extending between mirrors 130 and 150 and computing
components 160, or optical source modules 170 on the components.
Where an optical signal 140 is split, the width of the optical
pathways may also be reduced based on the ratio of power that is
directed into each pathway. Reducing the width of the pathways can
reduce the amount of real-estate used in a circuit. By keeping the
ratio of the output power to width substantially equivalent and
directing the beams near the center of the pathways, beam loss can
be limited by exciting the lowest order mode. The lowest order mode
is the mode with the lowest loss. The lowest order mode can be
excited by matching the rays in the optical signal that bounce off
the mirrors to the rays corresponding to the lowest order mode of
the waveguide in each of the pathways.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, a photonic waveguide module 200 is
provided having a hollow core photonic waveguide 210 which may be
formed on a substrate. Within the photonic waveguide, there may be
a plurality of steering mirror supports 250 having preset
locations. These steering mirror supports allow the steering
mirrors 230 to be selectively repositioned within the photonic
waveguide at the steering mirror supports. The steering mirrors may
be removably fixed in place within the waveguide by various
attachment or affixation means as are known in the art. Some
contemplated attachment means include screws, adhesives, magnets,
clamps, snap-on structures, or structures which are pressed into a
receiving unit. Thus, a steering mirror may be non-permanently
fixed at a steering mirror support location and later be removed. A
steering mirror may be removed from or added to the waveguide
module to change the number of steering mirrors within the
waveguide and change connectivity or communication channels between
computing components. A steering mirror may be removed in order to
replace it with a different steering mirror. A steering mirror may
be also removed in order to reposition it at a different steering
mirror support.
[0024] Repositioning the steering mirrors within the waveguide can
create varying configurations or different personalities for
directing an optical signal 240 between an optical source module
270 of computing components 260. It is not necessary that the
optical signal be transmitted only between similar computing
components. The optical signal may be also transmitted between
different types of computing components. As shown in FIG. 2, an
optical signal may be sent between two memory components (MEM),
between two processing components (CPU), and between the memory
components (MEM) and the processing components (MEM). It is to be
understood that any number and type of various computing components
may be used in various configurations to best suit the computing
needs in a particular environment. Different type computing
components may have different types of communication. These
different types of communication may be sent together through a
single waveguide channel but there may be a risk of cross-talk and
miscommunication. Some solutions to alleviate cross-talk concerns
include use of time division multiplexing or wavelength division
multiplexing. However, it is recognized that a waveguide module
having only one type of communication passing therethrough at any
given position within the waveguide may be preferred in order to
simplify the module and reduce cost.
[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, a photonic waveguide module 100
is shown which has selectively repositionable steering mirrors 130.
A steering mirror may initially be at position A, but may be
selectively repositioned to position B or position C to create a
different configuration, which provides optical communication
between a different group of computing components than in the first
configuration. Steering mirrors may be manually repositionable at
the steering mirror supports within the waveguide to create a
low-cost, passive optical module.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a photonic waveguide module 300 which is
similar in many regards to the photonic waveguide module 100 shown
in FIG. 1. The waveguide module includes a hollow, metal, photonic
waveguide 310 which may be formed on a substrate. Within the
waveguide are a plurality of steering mirrors 330 which direct an
optical signal 340 between optical source modules 370 and computing
components 360. In this embodiment, the steering mirrors are
positioned in fixed preset locations within the waveguide. In one
aspect, the waveguide structure can include an attachment section
for removably attaching the photonic waveguide to a circuit board
having computing components thereon. The waveguide module may be
attached to a backplane or midplane through various attachment
means as are known in the art. Some contemplated attachment means
include screws, adhesives, magnets, clamps, snap-on structures, or
structures which are pressed into a receiving unit.
[0027] The photonic waveguide module may be removably attached to
the circuit board and may be replaced with a second optical module
having steering mirrors in different preset fixed locations than
the preset fixed locations of the first steering mirrors, and
configured to direct the optical beam to form multiple connectivity
channels between the computing components. Interreplacing waveguide
modules can be a simple, low-cost method of creating different
personalities (or connectivity configurations) and functionality
with the same computing components. For example, there may be a
system having two memory components, two central processing units
(CPUs), and two graphics processing units (GPUs). A waveguide
module may be configured to provide connectivity from memory to
memory, CPU to CPU, and GPU to GPU. A system administrator may
desire different functionality and replace the waveguide module
with another waveguide module configured to provide connectivity
from memory to CPU, memory to GPU, and GPU to CPU. In such a
manner, the same computing components may be interconnected
differently to create different functionality or connectivity
simply by replacing a waveguide module.
[0028] It is to be understood that combinations of the various
embodiments described herein are also contemplated. For example,
selectively repositionable steering mirrors may be used in a
removably attachable waveguide structure or one that is permanently
fixed to a circuit board. Also, within a particular waveguide, some
mirrors may be selectively repositionable while others are fixed in
position. Where multiple waveguide modules are used within the same
computing system, the waveguide modules may be formed differently
to have different sizes, shapes, mirror positions, removable
attachability, repositionable mirrors, etc.
[0029] Additionally, multiple waveguides may be formed within the
same optical module to provide multiple communication pathways for
different types of communications.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 4, a photonic waveguide module 400 is
shown which is similar in many regards to the modules previously
described. The module 400 may comprise a photonic waveguide 410
which may be formed on a substrate. Within the waveguide 410 are a
plurality of steering mirrors 430 which direct an optical signal
440 between optical source modules 470 or computing components 460.
Also shown in FIG. 4 are optical interconnects, such as optical
signal source modules 480 and 490 configured to transmit and
receive signals to provide additional connectivity between
computing components 460. It is shown that systems using the
optical waveguide structures 410 of the present invention are still
compatible with various other computing connectivity devices and
methods.
[0031] As described above, a photonic waveguide module may be
configured in any number of ways to provide the desired
connectivity between computing components being used in a system.
FIG. 5 depicts a topology of a computing system 500 having various
computing components shown at 520, 530, 540 and 550. The optical
fabric 510 provides optical interconnectivity between the various
computing components. Arrows indicate communication between the
components to which they point. As described above, any variety of
computing components may be connected together to provide the
desired functionality. FIG. 5 depicts components such as a CPU,
GPU, IOH, I/F, MC, and memory component. The interface components
(I/F) can provide necessary optical-to-electrical and
electrical-to-optical conversion. The memory controller (MC) could
be low-bin CPU or ASIC and manages the flow of data going to and
from the memory. The Input/Output (I/O) Hub components (IOH) can
form a bridge directly from the optical fabric to central
processing units (CPUs) or graphics processing units (GPUs). In
some applications, it may be advantageous to have particular
communication types separate, though they share the same waveguide
structure. For instance, it may be desirable to only send CPU
communication between CPU's, memory information between memory
chips, etc. The different types of communication may be sent
together through a waveguide channel but there is a risk of
cross-talk and miscommunication. Some solutions to alleviate some
cross-talk concerns include use of time division multiplexing or
wavelength division multiplexing.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a photonic waveguide module 600 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The
waveguide 620 is attached to a midplane 610 having apertures 650
therethrough. A second waveguide 622 may be simultaneously attached
to a different portion of the midplane 610. As discussed above, a
midplane may have computing components attached to more than one
side. The waveguide module may be configured to direct a light beam
640 between computing components either on the same side of the
midplane, or on different sides of the midplane through proper
positioning of the steering mirrors 630. An optical beam or signal
640 may be generated at a first computing component on a first side
of the midplane, be reflected off a first steering mirror, pass
through the waveguide, and be reflected off of a second steering
mirror and through an aperture in the midplane to reach a second
computing component on a second side of the midplane.
[0033] An advantage of the present invention is that it can be used
in systems without requiring a change to the base midplane or
backplane. The module can be attached to existing structures by
various means as are known in the art, such as screws, adhesives,
magnets, snap-on structures, press-in structures, etc. It is also
an advantage of the present invention that it can be attached to
any side of a circuit board. For instance, it may be configured to
attach to any of the four edges or either of the two planar sides
of a circuit board. Multiple modules may be used on a single
circuit board on one or more of the six sides. In a system with
multiple circuit boards, a single module may interconnect the
circuit boards. Different circuit boards may also have different
modules attached thereto.
[0034] The present invention allows a shrinking of the form factor
for computing communications and a simplification of connectivity.
The invention allows for smaller blades and midplanes. Further, the
ratio of photonic density to electric is generally 26:1, based on
available photonic and electronic infrastructures. The optical
communications provided by this invention can work in conjunction
with current existing structures and augment electrical
communications. For example, blade to blade communications have
been unavailable and cannot fit in an electrical infrastructure,
but are made possible with the present invention.
[0035] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the
principles of the present invention in one or more particular
applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of
implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive
faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of
the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention
be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
* * * * *