An optimized routing algorithm for the automated assembly of standard multimode ribbon fibers in a full-mesh optical backplane

• Published in: Optical fiber technology 2018-03, Vol.41, p.56-63
• Main Authors: Basile, Vito, Guadagno, Gianluca, Ferrario, Maddalena, Fassi, Irene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Backplane; ICT apparatus; Optical fibers; Optical interconnection circuit; Routing
• ISSN: 1068-5200; 1095-9912
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yofte.2017.12.014

•A routing method of fiber optics in backplane interconnection circuit is proposed.•Routing and optimization algorithms for backplane optical circuits are presented.•Optimization methods address both transmission performances and costs issues.•The routing method is conceived to guarantee system modularity and scalability.•The routing method allows a fully automated assembly of optical fibers. In this paper a parametric, modular and scalable algorithm allowing a fully automated assembly of a backplane fiber-optic interconnection circuit is presented. This approach guarantees the optimization of the optical fiber routing inside the backplane with respect to specific criteria (i.e. bending power losses), addressing both transmission performance and overall costs issues. Graph theory has been exploited to simplify the complexity of the NxN full-mesh backplane interconnection topology, firstly, into N independent sub-circuits and then, recursively, into a limited number of loops easier to be generated. Afterwards, the proposed algorithm selects a set of geometrical and architectural parameters whose optimization allows to identify the optimal fiber optic routing for each sub-circuit of the backplane. The topological and numerical information provided by the algorithm are then exploited to control a robot which performs the automated assembly of the backplane sub-circuits. The proposed routing algorithm can be extended to any array architecture and number of connections thanks to its modularity and scalability. Finally, the algorithm has been exploited for the automated assembly of an 8x8 optical backplane realized with standard multimode (MM) 12-fiber ribbons.