Helmut Leopold

Fully-Passive Optical Switch Introducing Dynamicity and Flexibility to Metro-Access

We experimentally demonstrate a tool for dynamic reconfigurability at the physical layer infrastructure through optically powered switches based on micro-opto-electro-mechanical system technology. Energy scavenging at the optical network layer is exploited to feed this switching element. Up to 13 consecutive switching operations are shown for a full energy reservoir in addition to endless continuous switching operation with a recharge time of 24 s between operations for an optical feed of 6 dBm. A fast switching mode with 120 ms is also supported. Crosstalk robustness, penalty-free switching, and compatibility with reflective networking schemes are achieved and guarantee scalable node technology that is, from a network point-of-view, fully passive.

A miniature embedded stereo vision system for automotive applications

Dependable 3D perception modules are essential for safe operation of autonomous systems. Therefore, we present a highly compact stereo vision system that gets along without a dedicated processing platform, having the DSPs integrated in the cameras. To enable the computation of dense and accurate depth maps, we implement a Sparse Census Transform, reducing the complexity of the stereo matching procedure by a factor of four while still ensuring highly accurate results. Besides the detection of false positives, wrong matches are highly reduced due to the computation and analysis of a dedicated confidence value. Furthermore, the algorithm allows for the computation of camera images with up to 16 bit camera resolution, leading just to minor increases in computational time.

Passive optical switching engine for flexible metro-access

We experimentally demonstrate dynamic reconfigurability of physical layer infrastructure through optically powered MOEMS-based switches. Crosstalk robustness and penalty-free switching guarantee scalable node technology that is, from a network point of view, fully passive.

Fully-passive resiliency switch for agile PON restoration

We present a network recovery concept based on fully-passive inline demarcation nodes powered through energy scavenging at low optical feed level of -10dBm. Protection switching in 10.7 ms is experimentally demonstrated at the PON feeder.

Passive ROADM Flexibility in Optical Access With Spectral and Spatial Reconfigurability

An energy-aware solution for physical-layer reconfigurability in metro-access networks is presented. The dynamicity of optical switching is introduced in nodes that are perceived as fully-passive by the network. Energy scavenging at low optical feed level of -10dBm supports field-deployment without local electrical power supply. Two types of network nodes are demonstrated experimentally. First, a resilience node is evaluated for fast protection switching in 10.7 ms at the feeder segment. Optical switching is further exploited for the purpose of dynamic allocation of spectral slices and routing in a new class of reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. The spectral bandwidth of drop segments can be extended on demand while intranetwork communication among different segments of the access network is also enabled. Finally, we discuss the potential for realizing self-powering by means of tapping optical signals traversing the access network rather than utilizing a dedicated pump source.

Fully passive resiliency node for optical access [Invited]

A novel resiliency node for access network restoration is presented. Rather than using electrically powered nodes in an otherwise fully passive fiber plant, the proposed node is optically fed. The incorporation of energy scavenging mechanisms and optoelectronics with low power consumption guarantee operation at low optical feed levels of -10 dBm. Feeder protection for optical access is experimentally demonstrated that features a fast switching time of 10.7 ms in interaction with a control plane. Finally we identify options for self-pumping of the network node through simple optical power tapping of feeder and drop signals.

Chapter 5 – Matching Requirements for Ambient Assisted Living and Enhanced Living Environments with Networking Technologies

Enhanced Living Environments (ELE) comprise information and communication technologies (ICT) supporting true Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). It promotes the provision of infrastructures and services for the independent or more autonomous living, via seamless integration of ICT within homes and residences. For this, ELE encompasses the latest developments associated with the Internet of Things, towards services designed for a better help and support for people, or as a general term, to better live their life and interact with their environment. Both, in AAL and ELE, a multitude of heterogeneous applications, involving different stakeholders, have to communicate via a common network environment. Hence, infrastructures have to become pervasive, with an increasing number of distributed devices that will need to communicate between themselves, as well as with centralized services. Moreover, in the context of mobility, temporary co-location of devices will be exploited to build dynamic networks, without a pre-requisite infrastructure, or to complement existing communication infrastructures with ad-hoc ones. The current networking infrastructures are mostly based on the Internet, and were not designed to support the varying requirements for the dynamic interaction processes between human beeings, sensors and systems. The contribution of this book chapter is to understand the technological barriers hindering the widespread realworld usage of AAL/ELE systems and to identify technologies which may help to overcome them. We briefly review the application domains of AAL and ELE, and summarize domains, applications and stakeholders. Necessary requirements are highlighted and state-of-the-art technologies are evaluated against them.

Fully Passive Remote Radio Head for Uplink Cell Densification in Wireless Access Networks

A novel remote radio head (RRH) concept for fully passive radio access network (RAN) plants is demonstrated for short-range wireless networks. The joint transmission of data and energy through the optical fronthaul of RANs enables on-demand network densification through the deployment of distributed cells with low-complexity and low-power antenna sites along a passive optical network without electrical supply. The feasibility of the proposed RRH is demonstrated in uplink direction, employing low-noise amplification and analogue radio-over-fiber transmission over multimode fiber. Remote powering through the optical fronthaul is realized at a feed power of 120 mW.

Sicherheit in elektrischen Netzen durch einen nationalen Diskurs – Initiative zur gemeinsamen Entwicklung einer sicheren Smart Grid-Referenzarchitektur

1. IKT und Energienetze als grundlegende Infrastruktur unserer modernen Gesellschaft Der Paradigmenwechsel zu intelligenter, hoch automatisierter und auch ökologisch zukunftssicherer Energiebewirtschaftung ist ein Trend, der vor allem auch im Zusammenhang mit der Liberalisierung der Energiewirtschaft eine hohe Marktdynamik mit sich bringt. Neue Anforderungen des Marktes verlangen neue Systemarchitekturen und Technologieinnovationen. Unsere zukünftige Energieversorgung wird wesentlich von smarten Infrastrukturen abhängen, die durch einen weitreichenden Einsatz von Informationsund Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) entstehen. Durch eine intelligent gesteuerte verteilte Energieproduktion, vor allem von erneuerbarer Energie, und durch bedarfsgerechte Energieverteilung bis hin zu einem Energiemanagement zu Hause (smart home) bauen wir zukünftige Smart Grid-Infrastrukturen, welche einen grundlegenden Beitrag für das Energiemanagement unserer Gesellschaft darstellen.1 IKT und Energienetze verschmelzen somit zu einem untrennbaren Ganzen eines Cyber Physical Systems.2 Der Energietransport und die Energieverteilung werden somit in zunehmendem Maße von moderner Informationsund Kommunikationstechnologie abhängig. Die potentiellen Auswirkungen dieser Abhängigkeiten sind mittlerweile beträchtlich. Der Ausfall von Energienetzen kann enorme wirtschaftliche Schäden verursachen bzw. ganze Staaten massiv beeinträchtigen.3 IKT-Infrastrukturen müssen daher neben dem klassischen Stromnetz als die wesentliche kritische Infrastruktur unserer Gesellschaft eingestuft werden.

Scalable mobile fronthaul with spatial and spectral reconfigurability through virtually passive nodes

A flexible access and mobile fronthaul architecture with spectral re-allocation capability and dynamic lightpath provisioning among network segments is presented. Fully-passive operation of the optical distribution network (ODN) is retained through reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) that are solely supplied by means of energy harvesting at the optical layer with a low feed level of -9 dBm. Deployment with a typical power consumption amounting to 90 fJ/bit guarantees an energy-conscious fronthaul technology. It is further proved that urban radio access networks powered by a software-defined optical fronthaul can reduce the required amount of spectral resources by ~26% during on-peak when migrating to 5G.