Abstract: Techniques for measuring optical modulation amplitude (OMA) are disclosed. For example, a technique for measuring an OMA value associated with an input signal includes the following steps/operations. The input signal is applied to a photodetector, wherein the photodetector is calibrated to have a given responsivity value R, and further wherein the photodetector generates an output signal in response to the input signal. The output signal from the photodetector is applied to a radio frequency (RF) power meter, wherein the RF power meter measures the root mean squared (RMS) power value of the output signal received from the photodetector. The OMA value associated with the input signal is determined in response to the root mean squared (RMS) power value measured by the RF power meter. The OMA value may be determined as a function of a factor F derived from a relationship between an amplitude of a data signal and the RMS value of the data signal.

Abstract: A method for sending congestion notifications from a node in an Ethernet protocol including, determining whether the node is congested, generating a congestion message including a unique identifier of the node, responsive to determining that the node is congested, and sending the congestion message to a source transmitter.

Abstract: A method for determining data packet transmission times in an Ethernet protocol including, receiving a first data packet having a first data packet send time, wherein the first data packet send time is a time the data packet is sent by a source transmitter, subtracting the first data packet send time from a first data packet receive time to yield a first data packet transmission time, wherein the first data packet receive time is the time the data packet is received by a destination receiver, comparing the first data packet transmission time to a third time, determining whether a difference between the first data packet transmission time and the third time exceeds a threshold value, and sending a notification of a transmission delay responsive to determining that the difference between the first data packet transmission time and the third time exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for network protocol error correction comprising, generating a data packet including a cycle redundancy check (CRC) field, an end to end error field that remains unchanged as the data packet is sent over a network, for use in performing error detection in one or more field of the data packet, and a flag field associated with the end to end field to indicate that the end to end error field contains error correction data, and sending the data packet over a network via an Ethernet protocol.

Abstract: The response time for resolving network traffic congestion is accelerated in a Data Center Ethernet (DCE) network. A data packet is received at a node in the network. Congestion of the data packet at the node is detected, and a backward congestion notification signal for the data packet is generated. A packet injection rate is adapted based on at least one of the backward congestion notification signal generated by the node and another backward congestion notification signal.

Abstract: Flow control in a data center Ethernet (DCE) network is managed between a source node and a destination node separated by an extended distance. An initiation sequence between the source node and the destination node is intercepted. The imitation sequence is for determining buffer credits available for receiving packets in the source node and the destination node. Replies are generated to the source node and the destination node indicating buffer credits available in at least one extended data interface interspersed between the source node and the destination node. The initiation sequence is completed based on the replies from the extended data interface.

Abstract: Congestion is adaptively controlled in a data center Ethernet (DCE) network. Packets are received over at least one virtual lane in the DCE network. An absolute or relative packet arrival rate is computed over a time period. The absolute or relative packet arrival rate is compared to at least a first threshold and a second threshold. If the absolute or relative packet arrival rate increases beyond the first threshold, the packet transmission rate is caused to decrease. If the absolute or relative packet arrival rate is less than a second threshold, the packet transmission rate is caused to increase.

Abstract: Dropped packets are recovered in a link layer of a Data Center Ethernet (DCE) network. Data packets for transmission are stored in a replay buffer. Each data packet includes a header having a field including data indicating that the data packet is formatted for reliable recovery at the link layer. The data packets are transmitted to a receiver across a link layer in the DCE network. The receiver determines whether a data packet has been dropped. If a data packet has not been dropped, an acknowledgement signal is sent to the transmitter in another data packet across the link layer, indicating that the data packet has been received. If a data packet has been dropped, a non-acknowledgement signal is sent to the transmitter in the other data packet across the link layer, indicating that the data packet has been dropped.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a molded structure including both micro lenses and metallic pins. The method comprises the steps of providing a mold apparatus having a set of first cavities and a set of second cavities, depositing a first material in the first cavities to form a set of metallic pins, and depositing a second material in the second cavities to form a set of micro lenses. The formed molded structure comprises a substrate, a set of molded microlenses on said substrate, and a set of molded metallic pins on that same substrate. The metallic pins may be formed as alignment pins or as electrical connectors. The invention enables the micro lenses and metallic pins to be manufactured by way of molding on a common substrate for the first time.

Abstract: A wafer-scale apparatus and method is described for the automation of forming, aligning and attaching two-dimensional arrays of microoptic elements on semiconductor and other image display devices, backplanes, optoelectronic boards, and integrated optical systems. In an ordered fabrication sequence, a mold plate comprised of optically designed cavities is formed by reactive ion etching or alternative processes, optionally coated with a release material layer and filled with optically specified materials by an automated fluid-injection and defect-inspection subsystem. Optical alignment fiducials guide the disclosed transfer and attachment processes to achieve specified tolerances between the microoptic elements and corresponding optoelectronic devices and circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed are a microlens array, and a method of positioning and aligning the microlens array on another device. Generally, the microlens array comprises an array of injection molded microlens elements, and a supporting flange. Each of the microlens elements has a generally spheroid or spherical shape, and the supporting flange connects together the array of microlens elements to facilitate positioning that array of lenses on a printed circuit board, semiconductor package or wafer. This array is well suited for use with vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs); and, in particular, the preferred embodiment of the invention addresses the problem of VCSEL laser array alignment by using arrays of microlenses elements fabricated by injection molding.

Abstract: Disclosed are a microlens array, and a method of positioning and aligning the microlens array on another device. Generally, the microlens array comprises an array of injection molded microlens elements, and a supporting flange. Each of the microlens elements has a generally spheroid or spherical shape, and the supporting flange connects together the array of microlens elements to facilitate positioning that array of lenses on a printed circuit board, semiconductor package or wafer. This array is well suited for use with vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs); and, in particular, the preferred embodiment of the invention addresses the problem of VCSEL laser array alignment by using arrays of microlenses elements fabricated by injection molding.

Abstract: A wafer-scale apparatus and method is described for the automation of forming, aligning and attaching two-dimensional arrays of microoptic elements on semiconductor and other image display devices, backplanes, optoelectronic boards, and integrated optical systems. In an ordered fabrication sequence, a mold plate comprised of optically designed cavities is formed by reactive ion etching or alternative processes, optionally coated with a release material layer and filled with optically specified materials by an automated fluid-injection and defect-inspection subsystem. Optical alignment fiducials guide the disclosed transfer and attachment processes to achieve specified tolerances between the microoptic elements and corresponding optoelectronic devices and circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a molded structure including both micro lenses and metallic pins. The method comprises the steps of providing a mold apparatus having a set of first cavities and a set of second cavities, depositing a first material in the first cavities to form a set of metallic pins, and depositing a second material in the second cavities to form a set of micro lenses. The formed molded structure comprises a substrate, a set of molded microlenses on said substrate, and a set of molded metallic pins on that same substrate. The metallic pins may be formed as alignment pins or as electrical connectors. The invention enables the micro lenses and metallic pins to be manufactured by way of molding on a common substrate for the first time.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement a method for delay optimization scheduling in bufferless crossbar switches, the method including: transmitting, by each line card of a plurality of line cards logically organized into rows and columns, scheduling information to a horizontal control broadcast network and a vertical control broadcast network; receiving, by each line card, a plurality of requests from the horizontal and the vertical control broadcast networks connected to that line card, the requests being from the other line cards in a same row and a same column as that line card; performing, by each line card, a two-phase distribution of the requests; determining, by each line card, a partial schedule for that line card based on the scheduling information and the requests; and sending, by each line card, data according to the partial schedule through a bufferless crossbar switch.

Abstract: A system for delay optimization scheduling in bufferless crossbar switches includes a plurality of line cards, each line card having an ingress half, an egress half, and a partial scheduler, wherein each line card is configured to transmit scheduling information to a horizontal control broadcast network and a vertical control broadcast network; a plurality of couplers connected by control links to the line cards in a two-dimensional grid, organizing the line cards into rows and columns; a bufferless crossbar switch connected by data path links to each line card to the ingress half and the egress half; wherein control information is distributed in a first stage and a second stage of broadcasts.

Abstract: A system and a method for initializing a communication link for transmitting a data stream from a first computer through a synchronous optical communication network to a second computer are provided. The method includes transmitting a first request message in a first GFP data frame to a second computer. The method further includes transmitting a second acknowledgement message in a second GFP data frame from the second computer to the first computer. The method further includes initializing the communication link between the first computer and the second computer in response to the acknowledgement message.

Abstract: A byte-wide optical switch and switching method are provided. The optical switch includes a first set of ports for receiving in parallel an optical byte of data, and multiple second sets of ports each capable of outputting in parallel the optical byte of data. An array of optical switching elements is disposed between the first set of ports and the multiple second sets of ports. The array of optical switching elements direct the optical byte of data in parallel from the first set of ports to at least one second set of ports of the multiple second sets of ports. The switching elements may comprise micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices, each having a position controllable reflective surface. Thin film optical filters can be provided on the reflective surfaces for wavelength selective switching.

Abstract: Disclosed are a microlens array, and a method of positioning and aligning the microlens array on another device. Generally, the microlens array comprises an array of injection molded microlens elements, and a supporting flange. Each of the microlens elements has a generally spheroid or spherical shape, and the supporting flange connects together the array of microlens elements to facilitate positioning that array of lenses on a printed circuit board, semiconductor package or wafer. This array is well suited for use with vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs); and, in particular, the preferred embodiment of the invention addresses the problem of VCSEL laser array alignment by using arrays of microlenses elements fabricated by injection molding.

Abstract: A byte-wide optical switch and switching method are provided. The optical switch includes a first set of ports for receiving in parallel an optical byte of data, and multiple second sets of ports each capable of outputting in parallel the optical byte of data. An array of optical switching elements is disposed between the first set of ports and the multiple second sets of ports. The array of optical switching elements direct the optical byte of data in parallel from the first set of ports to at least one second set of ports of the multiple second sets of ports. The switching elements may comprise micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices, each having a position controllable reflective surface. Thin film optical filters can be provided on the reflective surfaces for wavelength selective switching.