Monolithic solid state relay circuit for telecom wireline applications

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for utilizing a solid state relay arrangement as a part of a protection scheme for a telecom wireline card suitable are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a line card that is suitable for use in an optical network device includes an electrical port, a plurality of input lines, an output line, and protection circuitry. The protection circuitry switches or multiplexes the plurality of input lines into the output line, and includes a solid state relay arrangement and power isolation circuitry. The power isolation circuitry provides a high impedance to power rails associated with the solid state relay arrangement, and the solid state relay arrangement includes at least one N-channel field effect transistor (FET), at least one protection diode, and at least one charge pump.

1 . An line card, the line card being suitable for use in an optical network device, the line card including: 
 an electrical port;    a plurality of input lines;    an output line, the output line being coupled to the electrical port; and    protection circuitry, the protection circuitry being arranged to effectively switch the plurality of input lines into the output line, the protection circuitry including a solid state relay arrangement and power isolation circuitry, the power isolation circuitry being arranged to provide a high impedance to power rails associated with the solid state relay arrangement, wherein the solid state relay arrangement includes at least one N-channel field effect transistor (FET), at least one protection diode, and at least one charge pump.    
   
   
       2 . The line card of  claim 1  further including: 
 a power supply, the power supply having a positive voltage line, a non-positive voltage line, and a ground line.    
   
   
       3 . The line card of  claim 2  further including: 
 a first clamp diode, the first claim diode being coupled to the positive voltage line and a first input line of the plurality of input lines; and    a second clamp diode, the second clamp diode being coupled to the non-positive voltage line and the first input line.    
   
   
       4 . The line card of  claim 2  wherein the power isolation circuitry includes a first FET, a second FET, and a comparator, the first FET being arranged between the ground line and the solid state relay arrangement, the second FET being arranged between the non-positive voltage line and the solid state relay arrangement, the comparator being arranged to turn on the first FET and the second FET.  
   
   
       5 . The line card of  claim 2  wherein the power isolation circuitry includes an electromechanical relay arrangement and a comparator, the electromechanical relay arrangement being arranged between the solid state relay arrangement and the power supply, the comparator being arranged to turn on the electromechanical relay arrangement.  
   
   
       6 . The line card of  claim 5  wherein the electromechanical relay arrangement is a double pole double throw electromechanical relay.  
   
   
       7 . The line card of  claim 2  wherein the positive voltage line is an approximately +3.6 Volt line and the non-positive voltage line is an approximately −3.6 Volt line.  
   
   
       8 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein the solid state relay arrangement is an integrated N-channel twin well FET device.  
   
   
       9 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein the line card is one of a T1, an E1, a T3, an E3, an STM03, an STM1E, a DS1, and a DS3 line card.  
   
   
       10 . The line card of  claim 1  wherein the solid state relay arrangement has a supply voltage of between ground and approximately −3.6 Volts.  
   
   
       11 . A multiservice platform suitable for use in a network, the multiservice platform comprising: 
 a power source; and    a telecom wireline line card, the telecom wireline line card being coupled to the power source, the telecom wireline line card including an electrical port, at least one input line, an output line coupled to the electrical port, and protection circuitry, the protection circuitry being arranged to effectively switch the at least one input line into the output line, the protection circuitry including a solid state relay arrangement and power isolation circuitry, the power isolation circuitry being arranged to provide a high impedance to power rails associated with the solid state relay arrangement, wherein the solid state relay arrangement includes at least one N-channel field effect transistor (FET), at least one protection diode, and at least one charge pump.    
   
   
       12 . The multiservice platform of  claim 11  wherein the telecom wireline line card further includes a power supply, the power supply being coupled to the power source, the power supply having a positive voltage line, a non-positive voltage line, and a ground line.  
   
   
       13 . The multiservice platform of  claim 12  wherein the telecom wireline line card further includes a first clamp diode and a second clamp diode, the first claim diode being coupled to the positive voltage line and the at least one input line, the second clamp diode being coupled to the non-positive voltage line and the at least one input line.  
   
   
       14 . The multiservice platform of  claim 12  wherein the power isolation circuitry includes a first FET, a second FET, and a comparator, the first FET being arranged between the ground line and the solid state relay arrangement, the second FET being arranged between the non-positive voltage line and the solid state arrangement, the comparator being arranged to turn on the first FET and the second FET.  
   
   
       15 . The multiservice platform of  claim 12  wherein the power isolation circuitry includes a electromechanical relay arrangement and a comparator, the electromechanical relay arrangement being arranged between the solid state relay arrangement and the power supply, the comparator being arranged to turn on the electromechanical relay arrangement.  
   
   
       16 . The multiservice platform of  claim 15  wherein the electromechanical relay arrangement is a double pole double throw electromechanical relay.  
   
   
       17 . The multiservice platform of  claim 12  wherein the positive voltage line is an approximately +3.6 Volt line and the non-positive voltage line is an approximately −3.6 Volt line.  
   
   
       18 . The multiservice platform of  claim 11  wherein the solid state relay arrangement is an integrated N-channel twin well FET device.  
   
   
       19 . A method for processing a signal using a telecom wireline line card, the method comprising: 
 receiving the signal on an input line of the line card;    switching the signal using a solid state relay arrangement of the line card, the solid state relay arrangement including at least one field effect transistor (FET), a charge pump, and at least one protection diode, the solid state relay arrangement being coupled to a power isolation circuit arranged to provide a high impedance to power rails associated with the solid state relay arrangement; and    providing the signal to an electrical port of the line card after the signal is switched using the solid state relay arrangement.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the input line is coupled to a first clamp diode on a positive voltage line and to a second clamp diode on a negative voltage line.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein switching the signal using the solid state relay arrangement includes multiplexing the signal.