SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ICAP Patent Brokerage announces for auction optical switching technology portfolios from Comptic, Inc., comprising high-speed optical switching innovations for the fiber-optic communications industry. The patent portfolios will be included as two lots in the 17^th ICAP Ocean Tomo IP Auction on November 29, 2012, at The Ritz Carlton in San Francisco, California.   

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"We are excited to be offering these optical switching portfolios to our global base of buyers. These innovative technologies are highly relevant to a wide-range of fiber-optic communication applications, such as cloud computing, cyber security, and stock market trading, where switching speed is essential," says Dean Becker, CEO of ICAP Patent Brokerage.

Key Characteristics & Benefits

Current fiber-optic communication systems employ both all-optical (O-O) and traditional optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) switches. The growing demand for capacity requires a larger number of fibers to be switched at system nodes, which is a difficult task for an OEO switch. Present traffic is limited due to the normal switching speed of O-O switches at 10-20 milliseconds. These optical switches use mechanical components such as rotating mirrors, which severely limit the speed and stability of optical switching. Further, low latency switching is a requirement to diagnose and switch to an alternate route to enable rapid system reconfiguration and rapid recovery from system outages and for avoiding cyber attacks.

Lot 43 – Next-Generation Large All-Optical Communication Switch

This portfolio includes a basic patent for a next-generation large all-optical communication switch with unique optical deflectors. The assets for sale are relevant to the changing fiber-optic communications industry as new, fourth generation equipment is replacing existing systems requiring higher switching speeds. The switching time of the offered switch can be as low as, and possibly less than, 10 microseconds, which is more than 1000 times faster than other large MEMS or liquid crystal switches. The key to its speed is its small size. The high-acoustic resonances of its very small mechanical elements and MEMS elements are not required to move a distance of more than half a wavelength of light. The switch allows for a more rugged and reliable design than the current O-O MEMS and liquid crystal switches. Additionally, the switch supports high-speed error detection, self diagnosis, repair, and can be rapidly reconfigured from a control station. Its applications include network monitoring and system repair, cloud computing, cyber security, and mobile backhaul where higher switching speeds are required to handle projected traffic. The patented technology is adaptable to ROADMs, cross connect switching, and other applications.

Lot 44 – High-Speed Ferroelectric Switch

This portfolio includes high-speed optical switch technology with interferometric phase spatial light modulators. The ferroelectric switch technology for sale is expected to switch in 10 nanoseconds; a dramatic increase in switching speed compared to current large crossbar MEMS and liquid crystal switches. The patented switch comprises an array of ferroelectric and Gires-Trounois inferrometers, which can switch up to 1,000,000 times faster than liquid crystal or rotating mirror switches. The ferroelectric switch supports high-speed error detection, self diagnosis and repair, and can be rapidly reconfigured. Its applications include cloud computing, cyber security, and mobile backhaul, packet switching, and high frequency stock market trading. The basic patent technology is adaptable to ROADMs, cross connect switching, and applications where low latency is critical.

See these technical descriptions of the Lot 43 and Lot 44 IP sales offerings.

To learn more about the assets available for sale in this portfolio:

Contact Dean Becker of ICAP Patent Brokerage at (561) 309-0011 or via email at Dean.Becker@us.icap.com.

Register for the upcoming event or submit IP for consideration for the ICAP Patent Brokerage auction.

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