Modular optical backplane and enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9599784-B2
Application number	US-201313794875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Aug 29, 2012
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to decomposing an all-to-all interconnection network topology into a plurality of smaller all-to-all interconnection network elements, replicating the interconnection network elements in a modular fashion, wherein the modular interconnection network elements construct the all-to-all interconnection network topology. Embodiments are directed to an apparatus comprising a shuffle cable assembly comprising a plurality of shuffle cables, where each of the plurality of shuffle cables comprises a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of connectors, a block configured to organize, align, and maintain a position of the plurality of connectors, and at least one handle coupled to the block and configured to actuate the plurality of connectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
decomposing an all-to-all interconnection network topology into a plurality of smaller all-to-all interconnection network elements, wherein each of the smaller all-to-all interconnection network elements includes a shuffle cable assembly comprising a plurality of shuffle cables, where each of the plurality of shuffle cables comprises a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of connectors, wherein each of the plurality of shuffle cables implements a 4×4 all-to-all topology with a link width of at least one fiber per link direction, and wherein each shuffle cable includes at least four connectors on each of two ends, and wherein each connector includes a standard MT or MPO Multi-fiber Push On/Pull Off optical connector;
replicating the interconnection network elements in a modular fashion;
wherein the modular interconnection network elements construct the all-to-all interconnection network topology.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
organizing the smaller elements by determining a size or dimension for at least one component included in the smaller elements; and
forming an assembly based on the organized smaller elements.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using a plurality of point-to-point links to connect each port of the topology to every other node of the topology.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each point-to-point link comprises a first channel configured to transmit data in a first direction and a second channel configured to transmit data in a second direction opposite the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the smaller elements comprises a shuffle cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers and connectors, and a block configured to organize, align, and maintain a plurality of the connectors.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enclosing the smaller elements within a rigid casing or enclosure.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
coupling the smaller elements to a plurality of drawers associated with a server computer in order to connect each of the plurality of drawers to one another.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of drawers comprises a plurality of power supplies, a computing section, a set of hub modules configured to provide a network interface and packet-routing switches, at least one input/output (I/O) card, and at least one optical connector.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Benner Alan F
• Graybill David
• Seminaro Edward J
• Rieland Richard

Classifications

• G02B6/44526

  Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack · CPC title

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/43 Primary

  Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections · CPC title

• H04B10/80

  Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water · CPC title

• G02B6/4452 Primary

  Distribution frames · CPC title