US6325553B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Connection system for optical redundancy
Assignee: Gemfire Corp
•
Filing: 2000-02-04
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Granted: 2001-12-04
•
Expires: 2020-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A redundant optical connection system is manufactured in specially prepared form to allow optical connections to be made at a later step. In response to information specifying which of the optical sources are functional, further structure may be activated or introduced into the connection system which guides optical energy to optical outputs from only those of the sources that are functional. In one aspect of the invention, the preliminary form includes primary guiding structures coupling each of a plurality of primary optical sources to a respective application structure, and a secondary guiding structure coupled to a secondary optical source and terminating without yet coupling to any application structure. If the information indicates that one of the primary optical sources is non-functional, then structure can be added or activated which transfers optical energy from the secondary guiding structure into the primary guiding structure corresponding to the non-functional source.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. G. Deacon
- 👤 Richard B. Tompane
- 👤 William K. Bischel
- 👤 Tony C. Kowalczyk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/0001; H04Q11/0005; H04Q2011/0037; H04Q2011/0043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides are smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said input waveguides are equal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said output waveguides are equal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said subsets of said output waveguides is a proper subset of said output waveguides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said set of optical redirectors includes at least one optical redirector coupling optical energy into each of said output waveguides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said set of optical redirectors includes a permanent optical redirector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said set of optical redirectors includes a dynamic redirector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region, a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a cross-connection facilitation structure which facilitates introduction of a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region, a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a cross-connection facilitation structure which facilitates introduction of a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides are smaller than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said input waveguides are equal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said output waveguides are equal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of said subsets of said output waveguides is a proper subset of said output waveguides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region, said output waveguides exiting said cross-connection region in a first spatial order; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region in a second spatial order; and a set of optical redirectors disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, said selected intersections being chosen such that the spatial order of said output waveguides is non-monotonic relative to the spatial order of said input waveguides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
117 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region, said output waveguides exiting said cross-connection region in a first spatial order; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region in a second spatial order; and a set of optical redirectors disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, said selected intersections being chosen such that the spatial order of said output waveguides is non-monotonic relative to the spatial order of said input waveguides.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising an additional waveguide positioned between two of said input waveguides.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said plurality of input waveguides includes a first group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a first type, and a second group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a second type, and wherein said selected intersections are chosen such that the spatial order of said output waveguides interleaves output waveguides carrying optical energy of said first type and output waveguides carrying optical energy of said second type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said plurality of input waveguides further includes a third group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a third type, and wherein said selected intersections are chosen further such that the spatial order of said output waveguides interleaves output waveguides carrying optical energy of said third type between output waveguides carrying optical energy of said first and second types.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said plurality of input waveguides includes a first group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a first type, a second group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a second type, and a third group of more than one of said input waveguides adjacent to each other and all carrying optical energy of a third type, and wherein said selected intersections are chosen such that the spatial order of said output waveguides rotates among output waveguides carrying optical energy of said first, second and third types.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said first type of optical energy comprises red light, said second type of optical energy comprises green light and said third type of optical energy comprises blue light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising: a first bar having an optical source corresponding to each of the input waveguides in said first group, each of the input waveguides in said first group being aligned to receive optical energy from a respective one of the optical sources on said first bar; a second bar having an optical source corresponding to each of the input waveguides in said second group, each of the input waveguides in said second group being aligned to receive optical energy from a respective one of the optical sources on said second bar; and a third bar having an optical source corresponding to each of the input waveguides in said third group, each of the input waveguides in said third group being aligned to receive optical energy from a respective one of the optical sources on said third bar.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
147 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
147 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region; a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides are larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said input waveguides are larger than all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
155 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region, a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a cross-connection facilitation structure which facilitates introduction of a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
155 words
Optical cross-connection array apparatus, comprising: a plurality of output waveguides extending through a cross-connection region and into an application region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said application region, a plurality of input waveguides each intersecting a respective subset of said output waveguides, said input waveguides entering said cross-connection region at an entry thereof and having predetermined center-to-center spacings therebetween at said entry of said cross-connection region; and a cross-connection facilitation structure which facilitates introduction of a set of at least one optical redirector, the optical redirectors in said set being disposed at selected intersections of said input and output waveguides to couple optical energy from selected ones of the input waveguides into selected ones of the output waveguides, wherein at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides is larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the input waveguides are larger than at least one of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of said input waveguides are larger than all of the predetermined center-to-center spacings of the output waveguides.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
112 words
Optical connection apparatus for coupling optical energy to a plurality of optical outputs from selected ones of a plurality of optical inputs, comprising a plurality of optical paths including a first optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a first one of said optical inputs to a first one of said optical outputs and a second optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a second one of said optical inputs, said apparatus further including a permanent optical redirector disposed in both said first and second optical paths and arranged to couple optical energy out of said second optical path and into said first optical path toward said first optical output.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
112 words
Optical connection apparatus for coupling optical energy to a plurality of optical outputs from selected ones of a plurality of optical inputs, comprising a plurality of optical paths including a first optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a first one of said optical inputs to a first one of said optical outputs and a second optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a second one of said optical inputs, said apparatus further including a permanent optical redirector disposed in both said first and second optical paths and arranged to couple optical energy out of said second optical path and into said first optical path toward said first optical output.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein said optical redirector blocks at least a portion of any optical energy in said first optical path from reaching said first optical output.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 27 , for use with a plurality of optical sources including a first optical source arranged to provide optical energy to said first optical input and a second optical source arranged to provide optical energy to said second optical input, wherein said first optical source fails predetermined functionality criteria.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
135 words
Optical connection apparatus for coupling optical energy to a plurality of optical outputs from selected ones of a plurality of optical inputs, comprising a plurality of optical paths including a first optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a first one of said optical inputs to a first one of said optical outputs and a second optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a second one of said optical inputs, said apparatus further including an optical redirector disposed in both said first and second optical paths and arranged to couple optical energy out of said second optical path and into said first optical path toward said first optical output, said optical redirector further blocking at least a portion of any optical energy in said first optical path from reaching said first optical output.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
135 words
Optical connection apparatus for coupling optical energy to a plurality of optical outputs from selected ones of a plurality of optical inputs, comprising a plurality of optical paths including a first optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a first one of said optical inputs to a first one of said optical outputs and a second optical path arranged to carry optical energy from a second one of said optical inputs, said apparatus further including an optical redirector disposed in both said first and second optical paths and arranged to couple optical energy out of said second optical path and into said first optical path toward said first optical output, said optical redirector further blocking at least a portion of any optical energy in said first optical path from reaching said first optical output.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 , for use with a plurality of optical sources including a first optical source arranged to provide optical energy to said first optical input and a second optical source arranged to provide optical energy to said second optical input, wherein said first optical source fails predetermined functionality criteria.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
81 words
Redundant optical connection apparatus, comprising: a first plurality of N optical sources, each having an output; a material having a second plurality of M output guiding structures, each having an input, N>M; and a gap region in said material between said outputs of said optical sources and said inputs of said output guiding structures, within which selective guiding structures can be formed for carrying optical energy to said inputs of said output guiding structures from selected ones of said optical sources.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
Redundant optical connection apparatus, comprising: a first plurality of N optical sources, each having an output; a material having a second plurality of M output guiding structures, each having an input, N>M; and a gap region in said material between said outputs of said optical sources and said inputs of said output guiding structures, within which selective guiding structures can be formed for carrying optical energy to said inputs of said output guiding structures from selected ones of said optical sources.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 32 , further comprising a plurality of application structures, each disposed to receive optical energy carried by a respective one of said output guiding structures.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 32 , further comprising a plurality of guiding structures each coupling optical energy from a respective one of said optical sources to said gap region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein said gap region in said material is photosensitive.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said material further includes a non-photosensitive region adjacent to said gap region and containing at least a portion of at least one of said output guiding structures.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of manufacturing a multiple optical source having a plurality of optical outputs for providing optical energy to application structures, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of optical sources, including a plurality of primary sources and a plurality of secondary sources, at least a first subset greater than one of said primary sources failing predetermined functionality criteria; providing in an integrated optical unit a plurality of primary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of said primary sources downstream in a one-to-one correspondence to a respective one of said optical outputs, said primary guiding structures including a first subset of primary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of the sources in said first subset of primary sources; providing in said integrated optical unit a plurality of secondary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of said secondary sources and terminating without reaching any application structures, each of said secondary guiding structures intersecting more than one of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures, upstream of the optical outputs of the intersected primary guiding structures; and introducing structure disposed in said integrated optical unit to transfer optical energy into each of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures in a downstream direction, from respective ones of said secondary guiding structures, said structure not being disposed to transfer optical energy from any one of said secondary guiding structures into any more than one of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of manufacturing a multiple optical source having a plurality of optical outputs for providing optical energy to application structures, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of optical sources, including a plurality of primary sources and a plurality of secondary sources, at least a first subset greater than one of said primary sources failing predetermined functionality criteria; providing in an integrated optical unit a plurality of primary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of said primary sources downstream in a one-to-one correspondence to a respective one of said optical outputs, said primary guiding structures including a first subset of primary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of the sources in said first subset of primary sources; providing in said integrated optical unit a plurality of secondary guiding structures each arranged in a path to guide optical energy from a respective one of said secondary sources and terminating without reaching any application structures, each of said secondary guiding structures intersecting more than one of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures, upstream of the optical outputs of the intersected primary guiding structures; and introducing structure disposed in said integrated optical unit to transfer optical energy into each of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures in a downstream direction, from respective ones of said secondary guiding structures, said structure not being disposed to transfer optical energy from any one of said secondary guiding structures into any more than one of the primary guiding structures in said first subset of primary guiding structures.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method according to claim 37 , wherein said step of introducing structure comprises the steps of: introducing a plurality of optical redirectors each of which is disposed to redirect optical energy from a respective cross-connection waveguide into a respective one of the primary guiding structures; and introducing a plurality of optical redirectors each of which is disposed to redirect optical energy from one of said secondary guiding structure into a respective one of said cross-connection waveguides.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 38 , wherein all of said optical redirectors are distinct from said cross-connection waveguides and from said secondary guiding structures.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
11 words
A product produced according to the process of claim 37 .
Claim 50
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for using a multiple integrated optical unit having M optical outputs and N optical sources, N>M, each of said outputs outputting optical energy from a respective one of said optical sources, comprising the steps of: providing in said integrated optical unit a plurality of output waveguides, one for each of said optical outputs; providing information that at least N specified ones of said optical sources satisfy predetermined functionality criteria; introducing structure into said integrated optical unit, in dependence upon said information, which guides optical energy into each of said output waveguides toward said optical outputs from a respective one of said sources which satisfy said functionality criteria; storing a correspondence between said optical outputs and the sources from which each output outputs optical energy; and providing control signals to operate said sources in dependence upon said correspondence.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for using a multiple integrated optical unit having M optical outputs and N optical sources, N>M, each of said outputs outputting optical energy from a respective one of said optical sources, comprising the steps of: providing in said integrated optical unit a plurality of output waveguides, one for each of said optical outputs; providing information that at least N specified ones of said optical sources satisfy predetermined functionality criteria; introducing structure into said integrated optical unit, in dependence upon said information, which guides optical energy into each of said output waveguides toward said optical outputs from a respective one of said sources which satisfy said functionality criteria; storing a correspondence between said optical outputs and the sources from which each output outputs optical energy; and providing control signals to operate said sources in dependence upon said correspondence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6049641A
Cited
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |