An Optical Circuit Switch (OCS) is a device that directly routes optical signals without converting them to electrical signals. Unlike traditional switches that handle data packets, an OCS creates a physical, dedicated light path between two points. These are increasingly important in the context of AI scale-up because they offer low latency and high bandwidth, which are crucial for the massive data transfers required for large language models and other AI workloads.

The AI Cluster Environment

An OCS is deployed in data centers, specifically within AI clusters or high-performance computing (HPC) environments. These clusters are composed of thousands of GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) that are interconnected to work together on complex tasks. As AI models grow, the amount of data that needs to be moved between GPUs becomes immense. This is where fiber optics comes in. Fiber optic cables can carry much more data over longer distances with less signal loss than copper. The challenge then becomes how to switch and route these optical signals efficiently.

How an OCS Works: An Analogy

The best way to understand the difference between an OCS and a normal switch is through an analogy.

• A traditional electronic packet switch (EPS)is like a busy post office. When a letter (data packet) arrives, a postal worker (the switch’s processor) must read the address (packet header), sort the letter, and then put it back into the mail stream for its next hop. This process of reading, sorting, and redirecting introduces delay and consumes significant energy. In network terms, this is called O-E-O conversion (Optical-to-Electrical-to-Optical).
• An Optical Circuit Switch (OCS)is like an automated rail yard. When a train (light signal) arrives, the system simply re-configures the physical tracks to create a direct, uninterrupted path from the origin to the destination. There is no need to open the cars or read the contents. The data flows at the speed of light along a dedicated, physical circuit. This eliminates the latency and power consumption associated with O-E-O conversion.

Because AI training jobs often have stable communication patterns that last for hours or even days, the “tracks” don’t need to be changed frequently. When a change is needed, it is done by a central software system, not by the switch itself. This is a form of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) where the software controller calculates a “circuit schedule” and sends instructions to the OCS to re-align its internal mirrors. This reconfiguration, while slower than a packet-by-packet decision, happens in milliseconds, which is fast enough for the needs of AI clusters.

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Our Micro-Optic and High-Density Fiber Shuffle

To build a large-scale OCS, you must manage a massive number of fiber connections in a compact and organized way. This is where our products are critical.

1. Front-End Connectivity: At the front of the OCS, you have standard connectors, typically MPO/MTP, that connect to the outside world.
2. Fiber Shuffle: The fibers from these connectors run into our high-density fiber shuffle. This is a pre-configured solution that acts as a crucial organizer. It takes the individual fibers and “shuffles” them into a specific, pre-determined pattern. This ensures that the thousands of fibers are organized in the exact order required by the switch’s internal components, simplifying assembly and preventing a tangled mess.
3. Micro-Optics: The shuffled fibers are then terminated onto our high-density lens connectorsor fiber arrays (FA). These aren’t just simple connectors; they contain precision micro-optics (tiny lenses). The job of these lenses is to take the light from the hair-thin fiber cores and transform it into a perfectly parallel beam, or a collimated This is a critical step because the light must be precisely aimed to be reflected by the tiny mirrors inside the OCS.

The collimated light from our lens connectors is then directed onto the internal MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) mirror matrix. These tiny mirrors are what the OCS uses to physically route the light to the correct output port. By integrating our fiber shuffle and micro-optic technology, we provide a clean, scalable, and high-performance solution that enables the core functionality of a next-generation OCS.