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Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-17
SOLGAARD OLAV +2
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another object of this invention to provide such an optical switch with high performance characteristics such as basic low loss, high cross-talk rejection and flat passband characteristics.

Problems solved by technology

547-558), but they presently suffer from certain fundamental limitations including poor cross-talk rejection and an inability to be easily scaled to a larger number of ports.
This strategy, however, adds to switch complexity and cost.
This device, however, is limited to four (2×2) ports since it relies on the two-state nature of polarized light.

Method used

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  • Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus generally shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 8, where like reference numerals denote like parts. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as to details of the parts without departing from the basic concepts as disclosed herein.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a multi-port (N×N ports), multi-wavelength (M wavelength) WDM cross-connect switch 10 embodying this invention is schematically shown where, in the example shown, N=3. In this switch 10, the wavelength channels 12a, 12b, 12c of three input fibers 14a, 14b, 14c are collimated and spatially dispersed by a first (or input) diffraction grating-lens system 16. The grating-lens system 16 separates the wavelength channels in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and the dispersed wavelength channels are then focused onto a corresponding layer 18a, 18b, 18c of a spatial microm...

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PUM

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Abstract

A cross-connect switch for fiber-optic communication networks employing a wavelength dispersive element, such as a grating, and a stack of regular (non-wavelength selective) cross bar switches using two-dimensional arrays of micromachined, electrically actuated, individually-tiltable, controlled deflection micromirrors for providing multiport switching capability for a plurality of wavelengths. Using a one-dimensional micromirror array, a fiber-optic based MEMS switched spectrometer that does not require mechanical motion of bulk components or large diode arrays can be constructed with readout capability for WDM network diagnosis or for general purpose spectroscopic applications.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a cross-connect switch for fiber-optic communication networks including wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks, and more particularly to such an optical switch using a matrix of individually tiltable micro-mirrors. 2. Description of the Background Art Multi-port, multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switches with characteristics of large cross-talk rejection and flat passband response have been desired for use in wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) networks. Four-port multi-wavelength cross-bar switches based on the acousto-optic tunable filter have been described (“Integrated Acoustically-tuned Optical Filters for Filtering and Switching Applications,” D. A. Smith, et al., IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Proceedings, IEEE, New York,...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G01J3/28G02B6/32G02B6/35H04Q11/00
CPCG01J3/28H04Q2011/0083G02B6/35G02B6/3512G02B6/3516G02B6/3518G02B6/3534G02B6/3542G02B6/3546G02B6/3556G02B6/356G02B6/3566G02B6/357G02B6/3582G02B6/3584G02B6/3592H04Q11/0005H04Q2011/0024H04Q2011/0026G02B6/32
Inventor SOLGAARD, OLAVHERITAGE, JONATHAN P.BHATTARAI, AMAL R.
Owner SOLGAARD OLAV
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