Patent ID: 8488938
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. In a system for interweaving a selected stand within a spatially coherent multiplicity of strands suspended in an interconnection volume between a planar two-dimensional matrix of input terminals disposed in rows and columns, and a spaced apart ordered single axis distribution of strand output terminals in which each input terminal has a unique two-dimensional address, with the strands between the input and output terminals defining three-dimensional vectors, and in which system a strand transport mechanism interweaves a selected strand adjacent the two-dimensional matrix to a different target input terminal in the matrix along a computed trajectory, the rows of terminals in the matrix being incrementally movable in the row direction; a method for providing a trajectory for reconfiguration of a selected strand between different input terminals without entangling the selected strand with other strands in the multiplicity, the method comprising the steps of: transporting a selected strand in alternating columnar directions through the multiplicity of strands; calculating a reconfiguration algorithm in the form of a weaving code for laterally incrementally moving individual rows of the two-dimensional matrix of terminals in timed relation to the columnar position of the strand being transported; providing lateral incremental movements of selected rows of strands in the two-dimensional distribution according to the calculated weaving code, in timed relation to the columnar position of the strand being transported; transporting the selected strand along successive columns of the matrix in alternating senses parallel to the single axis dimension, relative to the matrix, and repeating the columnar transporting in alternating directions and timed lateral incremental movements of selected rows until a final output address is reached.