CA2363526A1 - Optical switch - Google Patents
Optical switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2363526A1 CA2363526A1 CA 2363526 CA2363526A CA2363526A1 CA 2363526 A1 CA2363526 A1 CA 2363526A1 CA 2363526 CA2363526 CA 2363526 CA 2363526 A CA2363526 A CA 2363526A CA 2363526 A1 CA2363526 A1 CA 2363526A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- optical
- deflectors
- array
- optical switch
- light
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/351—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements
- G02B6/3512—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
- H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
- H04Q11/0005—Switch and router aspects
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/354—Switching arrangements, i.e. number of input/output ports and interconnection types
- G02B6/3554—3D constellations, i.e. with switching elements and switched beams located in a volume
- G02B6/3558—1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
- G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
- G02B6/3582—Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
- H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
- H04Q11/0005—Switch and router aspects
- H04Q2011/0007—Construction
- H04Q2011/0026—Construction using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)
- H04Q2011/003—Construction using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors) using switches based on microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS]
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Mechanical Light Control Or Optical Switches (AREA)
Abstract
The invention provides an optical switch having a pair of opposed optical arrays, each optical array including a fixed mirror and a plurality of independently tiltable mirrors, at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch, said input port being disposed within a respective optical array, at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light from an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports, said at least two output ports being disposed within a respective opposed optical array, and an ATO element having optical power disposed between the pair of opposed optical arrays. The pair of opposed optical arrays is disposed in respective focal planes of the ATO element. Preferably, the ATO element has a focal length equal to a Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon.
Claims (20)
1. An optical switch comprising:
a pair of opposed optical arrays, each optical array including a fixed mirror and a plurality of independently tiltable mirrors;
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch, said input port being disposed within a respective optical array;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light from an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports, said at least two output ports being disposed within a respective opposed optical array;
and an ATO element having optical power disposed between the pair of opposed optical arrays.
a pair of opposed optical arrays, each optical array including a fixed mirror and a plurality of independently tiltable mirrors;
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch, said input port being disposed within a respective optical array;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light from an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports, said at least two output ports being disposed within a respective opposed optical array;
and an ATO element having optical power disposed between the pair of opposed optical arrays.
2. The optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein the pair of opposed optical arrays is disposed in respective focal planes of the ATO element.
3. The optical switch as defined in claim 2 wherein the ATO element has a focal length approximately equal to a near zone length or Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon.
4. The optical switch as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one input port and the at least two output ports are optical bypasses for allowing a beam of light to pass through a respective one of the pair of opposed optical arrays.
5. The optical switch as defined in claim 4 wherein the pair of opposed optical arrays, the at least one input port, the at least two output ports, and the ATO
element are disposed about an optical axis of the ATO element.
element are disposed about an optical axis of the ATO element.
6. The optical switch as defined in claim 5 wherein the fixed mirror of each of the pair of opposed optical arrays is positioned along the optical axis of the ATO
element.
element.
7. An optical switch comprising:
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light from an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports;
an ATO element having optical power for performing an angle-to-offset transformation, said ATO element being disposed between the at least one input port and the at least two output ports;
a first array of deflectors including a first fixed deflector and a first plurality of independently tiltable deflectors and a second array of deflectors including a second fixed deflector and a second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors, said first and second array of deflectors being disposed in respective focal planes of the ATO
element, wherein the first fixed deflector is for receiving a beam of light from the at least one input port via the ATO element and for deflecting a beam of light to one of the second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors via the ATO element, and the second fixed deflector is for receiving a beam of light from one of the first plurality of independently tiltable deflectors via the ATO element and for deflecting a beam of light to a selected one of the at least two output ports via the ATO element, and wherein the first and the second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors are for switching a beam of light along an optical path via the ATO element.
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light from an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports;
an ATO element having optical power for performing an angle-to-offset transformation, said ATO element being disposed between the at least one input port and the at least two output ports;
a first array of deflectors including a first fixed deflector and a first plurality of independently tiltable deflectors and a second array of deflectors including a second fixed deflector and a second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors, said first and second array of deflectors being disposed in respective focal planes of the ATO
element, wherein the first fixed deflector is for receiving a beam of light from the at least one input port via the ATO element and for deflecting a beam of light to one of the second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors via the ATO element, and the second fixed deflector is for receiving a beam of light from one of the first plurality of independently tiltable deflectors via the ATO element and for deflecting a beam of light to a selected one of the at least two output ports via the ATO element, and wherein the first and the second plurality of independently tiltable deflectors are for switching a beam of light along an optical path via the ATO element.
8. The optical switch as defined in claim 7 wherein the ATO element has a focal length approximately equal to a near zone length or Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon.
9. The optical switch as defined in claim 8 wherein the at least one input port, the at least two output ports, the ATO element, the first array of deflectors, and the second array of deflectors are disposed about an optical axis of the ATO element.
10. The optical switch as defined in claim 9 wherein a beam of light passes five times through the ATO element along an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports.
11. The optical switch as defined in claim 9 wherein the first array of deflectors and the second array of deflectors are disposed on a first MEMS chip and a second MEMS
chip, respectively.
chip, respectively.
12. The optical switch as defined in claim 11 wherein the deflectors are micro-mirrors.
13. The optical switch as defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one input port and the at least two output ports are disposed at optical bypass regions of the first and the second MEMS chip, respectively.
14. The optical switch as defined in claim 7 wherein the ATO element is one of a focusing lens and a GRIN lens
15. The optical switch as defined in claim 14 wherein the GRIN lens is a quarter pitch GRIN lens.
16. The optical switch as defined in claim 15 wherein the first array of deflectors is disposed at a first end face of the GRIN lens and the second array of deflectors is disposed at a second end face of the GRIN lens.
17. The optical switch as defined in claim 16 wherein the GRIN lens is a foreshortened GRIN lens for accommodating the first array of deflectors in the first focal plane of the GRIN lens and the second array of deflectors in the second focal plane of the GRIN lens.
18. An optical switch comprising:
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light;
an ATO element having optical power and a focal length approximately equal to a near zone length or Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon; and a first array of deflectors and a second array of deflectors for switching a beam of light from the at least one input port to a selected one of the at least two output ports, wherein the switching is performed along an optical path including the first and the second array of deflectors and the ATO element and wherein a beam of light passes five times through the ATO element when switching a beam of light to a selected one of the at least two output ports.
at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;
at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light;
an ATO element having optical power and a focal length approximately equal to a near zone length or Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon; and a first array of deflectors and a second array of deflectors for switching a beam of light from the at least one input port to a selected one of the at least two output ports, wherein the switching is performed along an optical path including the first and the second array of deflectors and the ATO element and wherein a beam of light passes five times through the ATO element when switching a beam of light to a selected one of the at least two output ports.
19. The optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein the first array of deflectors includes a first fixed micro-mirror and a first plurality of tiltable micro-mirrors, and the second array of deflectors includes a second fixed micro-mirror and a second plurality of tiltable micro-mirrors.
20. The optical switch as defined in claim 19 wherein the first and the second array of deflectors are disposed in a respective focal plane of the ATO element.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2363526 CA2363526C (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-11-20 | Optical switch |
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2,326,362 | 2000-11-20 | ||
| CA002326362A CA2326362A1 (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2000-11-20 | Optical switch |
| CA002327862A CA2327862A1 (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2000-12-06 | Optical switch |
| CA2,327,862 | 2000-12-06 | ||
| CA2,328,759 | 2000-12-19 | ||
| CA002328759A CA2328759A1 (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2000-12-19 | Optical switch |
| CA 2363526 CA2363526C (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-11-20 | Optical switch |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2363526A1 true CA2363526A1 (en) | 2002-05-20 |
| CA2363526C CA2363526C (en) | 2010-01-26 |
Family
ID=27427661
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2363526 Expired - Fee Related CA2363526C (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-11-20 | Optical switch |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2363526C (en) |
-
2001
- 2001-11-20 CA CA 2363526 patent/CA2363526C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2363526C (en) | 2010-01-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20191120 |