CN112444915B

CN112444915B - Optical switch and optical transmission method through optical switch

Info

Publication number: CN112444915B
Application number: CN201910809029.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张鹏
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-29
Filing date: 2019-08-29
Publication date: 2022-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-29
Also published as: CN112444915A

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses an optical switch and an optical transmission method, which can meet the requirement of larger network switching. The optical switch of the embodiment of the application includes: the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, and the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements; the first optical fiber collimator is used for guiding an input optical signal to the first refraction structure; the first refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to the first reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to the second refraction structure; the second refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first refraction structure to the second reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the second reflection structure to the second optical fiber collimator; the second fiber collimator is used for outputting the optical signal from the second refraction structure.

Description

Optical switch and optical transmission method through optical switch

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of optical communications, and in particular, to an optical switch and an optical transmission method using the same.

Background

From the trend of current information technology development, it has become a necessary trend of information technology development to build large-capacity high-speed integrated networks and data centers. With the increasing complexity of metro network optical networks, there are often a large number of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical signals from different directions at metro network backbone nodes to be switched at the node to different directions.

An optical cross-connect (OXC) component is a key component for forming a large-capacity optical network and a data center network, wherein a three-dimensional micro electro mechanical systems (3D-MEMS) optical switch is a common mode for realizing the OXC component, specifically, the 3D-MEMS optical switch is composed of a pair of fiber collimator arrays and a pair of mirror arrays, the pair of fiber collimators are respectively used as an input port and an output port, the pair of mirror arrays are used for controlling the reflection direction of a light beam, each mirror in the mirror arrays can rotate around the plane where the mirror is located, and the optical signal can be exchanged from any input port to any output port by adjusting the deflection angle of each mirror.

Usually, the maximum rotatable angle of each mirror on the mirror array is consistent, but is limited by conditions such as process level, driving principle, etc., and it is difficult to further improve the maximum rotatable capability of each mirror, so that it is difficult for the current 3D-MEMS optical switch to meet the ever-increasing network switching requirement.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides an optical switch and an optical transmission method through the optical switch, which can meet the requirement of larger network switching.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical switch, including: the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements, N is an integer larger than 1, and M is an integer larger than 1; the first optical fiber collimator is used for guiding an input optical signal to the first refraction structure; the first refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to the first reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to the second refraction structure; the second refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first refraction structure to the second reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the second reflection structure to the second optical fiber collimator; the second optical fiber collimator is used for outputting the optical signal from the second refraction structure; each first reflecting element on the first reflecting structure rotates, so that the optical signal reflected by each first reflecting element is guided to any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure through the first refracting structure and the second refracting structure; and any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure rotates, so that the optical signal reflected by any second reflecting element is guided to the second optical fiber collimator through the second refracting structure.

In this embodiment, for one of the first reflective elements in the first reflective structure, since the optical signal reflected by the first reflective element is refracted in the process of being directed to the second reflective structure, the refracted optical path after refraction has already been deflected to a certain extent relative to the original reflected optical path, so that the optical signal reflected by the first reflective element can be directed to more second reflective elements on the second reflective structure based on the maximum rotation capability of the first reflective element, thereby meeting the greater network switching requirement.

It will be appreciated that the reflective structure may be a MEMS mirror array and the reflective elements may be MEMS mirrors constituting the MEMS mirror array.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the first refractive structure includes N first refractive elements, the second refractive structure includes M second refractive elements, the N first reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first refractive elements, and the M second reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the M second refractive elements.

In this embodiment, a design of the first refraction structure and the second refraction structure is provided, that is, each first reflection element has a corresponding first refraction element, each second reflection element has a corresponding second refraction element, and the deflection angle of the light reflected by each reflection element can be adjusted according to requirements for different reflection elements, so that the maximum rotation requirement of each reflection element can be reduced as much as possible.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the first refractive structure includes K first refractive elements, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to N, each first refractive element corresponding to at least one first reflective element, and the second refractive structure includes L second refractive elements, L being an integer greater than 1 and less than or equal to M, each second refractive element corresponding to at least one second reflective element.

In this embodiment, another design of the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure is provided, that is, each first refractive element may correspond to a plurality of first reflective elements, each second refractive element may correspond to a plurality of second reflective elements, the deflection angle of the light reflected by each reflective element may also be adjusted, and the complexity of the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure is simplified to some extent, so that the processing is easier.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, each first refraction element is a first refraction prism, each first refraction prism includes a first refraction surface and a first bottom surface, a first included angle is formed between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface, the first bottom surface is parallel to the first reflection structure, and the first included angle is greater than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees; each second refraction element is a second refraction prism, each second refraction prism comprises a second refraction surface and a second bottom surface, a second included angle is formed between the second refraction surface and the second bottom surface, the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure are placed in parallel, and the second included angle is larger than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees.

In this embodiment, a specific implementation of the first and second refractive elements is provided, which improves the realizability of this solution.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the first fiber collimator includes N first ports, the N first ports are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first reflective elements, the second fiber collimator includes M second ports, and the M second ports are in one-to-one correspondence with the M second reflective elements.

In this embodiment, the number of ports on the first optical fiber collimator is the same as that of the first reflecting elements, and the ports are in one-to-one correspondence, and similarly, the number of ports on the second optical fiber collimator is the same as that of the second reflecting elements, and the ports are in one-to-one correspondence, so as to ensure that optical signal exchange can be achieved between each port on the first optical fiber collimator and each port on the second optical fiber collimator.

Alternatively, in some possible embodiments,

the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is larger than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and a first distance is reserved between each first port and the corresponding first reflection element. If the first distance is smaller than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface.

The distance between the second refraction surface and the second reflection structure is larger than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure, and a second distance is reserved between each second port and the corresponding second reflection element. If the second distance is smaller than the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is larger than the emergent angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface; if the second distance is equal to the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface; if the second distance is greater than the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface.

In this embodiment, the first bottom surface of the first refractive element is closer to the first reflective structure, and the optical signal reflected by each first reflective element converges toward the middle of the second reflective structure after being refracted by the first refractive element, so that the maximum rotation requirement of each first reflective element is reduced, and the same applies to the second refractive structure.

Alternatively, in some possible embodiments,

the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is smaller than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and a first distance is reserved between each first port and the corresponding first reflection element. If the first distance is smaller than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is smaller than the emergent angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface; if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface; if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface.

The distance between the second refraction surface and the second reflection structure is smaller than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure, and a second distance is reserved between each second port and the corresponding second reflection element. If the second distance is smaller than the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface on the second bottom surface is larger than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element on the second bottom surface; if the second distance is equal to the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface at the second bottom surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element at the second bottom surface; if the second distance is greater than the second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface at the second bottom surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element at the second bottom surface.

In addition to the above embodiments, the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure may be combined in other forms. For example, the distance between the first refractive surface and the first reflective structure is greater than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflective structure, and the distance between the second refractive surface and the second reflective structure is less than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflective structure. Or the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is smaller than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and the distance between the second refraction surface and the second reflection structure is larger than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure.

In this embodiment, unlike the above embodiments, the first inclined surface of the first refractive element may be closer to the first reflective structure, and the same applies to the second refractive element, which improves the flexibility of the present solution.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, if an absolute value of a difference between the first distance associated with one of the N first reflective elements and the first distance threshold is greater than an absolute value of a difference between the first distance associated with another one of the N first reflective elements and the first distance threshold, the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the one of the N first reflective elements is greater than the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the another one of the N first reflective elements; if the absolute value of the difference between the second distance associated with one of the N second reflecting elements and the second distance threshold is greater than the absolute value of the difference between the second distance associated with another one of the N second reflecting elements and the second distance threshold, the second included angle of the second refractive prism corresponding to the one of the second reflecting elements is greater than the second included angle of the second refractive prism corresponding to the another one of the second reflecting elements.

In this embodiment, the first included angle of the first refractive element closer to the two ends of the first refractive structure is larger, so that the deflection angle of the optical signal passing through the first refractive element is larger, so as to reduce the maximum rotation requirement of each first reflective element as much as possible, and the same applies to the second refractive structure.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the material of the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure is glass or silicon. The practicability of the scheme is improved.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the first reflective structure and the first refractive structure form a first sealed structure, and the second reflective structure and the second refractive structure form a second sealed structure. The first reflection structure and the first refraction structure are better in stability and better in air tightness, and the air tightness is also suitable for the second reflection structure in the same way.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a signal transmission method through an optical switch, where the optical switch includes: the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements, N is an integer larger than 1, and M is an integer larger than 1;

the method comprises the following steps: guiding an input optical signal to a first refraction structure through a first optical fiber collimator; refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to a first reflection structure through a first refraction structure, and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to a second refraction structure; the optical signal from the first refraction structure is refracted to the second reflection structure through the second refraction structure, and the optical signal reflected by the second reflection structure is refracted to the second optical fiber collimator; outputting the optical signal from the second refractive structure through a second fiber collimator; by rotating each first reflecting element on the first reflecting structure, the optical signal reflected by each first reflecting element is guided to any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure through the first refracting structure and the second refracting structure; by rotating any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure, the optical signal reflected by any second reflecting element is guided to the second optical fiber collimator through the second refracting structure.

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the first refractive structure includes K first refractive elements, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than N, each first refractive element corresponding to at least one first reflective element, and the second refractive structure includes L second refractive elements, L being an integer greater than 1 and less than M, each second refractive element corresponding to at least one second reflective element.

Alternatively, in some possible embodiments,

the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is larger than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and a first distance is reserved between each first port and the corresponding first reflection element. If the first distance is smaller than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface;

Alternatively, in some possible embodiments,

Optionally, in some possible embodiments, the material of the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure is glass or silicon.

Alternatively, in some possible embodiments, the first reflective structure and the first refractive structure form a first sealed structure, and the second reflective structure and the second refractive structure form a second sealed structure.

According to the technical scheme, the embodiment of the application has the following advantages:

in this embodiment of the application, the first refraction structure is configured to refract the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to the first reflection structure, and refract the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to the second refraction structure, so for a certain first reflection element in the first reflection structure, because the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element is refracted in the process of being directed to the second reflection structure, the refracted optical path after being refracted has already deflected to a certain extent relative to the initial reflected optical path, and based on the maximum rotation capability of the first reflection element, the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element can be directed to more second reflection elements on the second reflection structure, thereby satisfying a larger network switching requirement.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary structure of a 3D-MEMS optical switch;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical switch according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3(a) is a schematic diagram of a first refractive structure in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3(b) is a schematic view of a refraction light path of a first refraction prism with a positive first included angle in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3(c) is a comparison of the optical paths before and after the first refraction prism is disposed in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3(d) is a schematic diagram of the refracted light path of a plurality of first refraction prisms in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3(e) is a schematic view of a refraction light path of a first refraction prism with a negative first included angle in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3(f) is a schematic diagram of a combination of a first refractive prism and a first reflective element according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3(g) is a schematic diagram of another combination of a first refractive prism and a first reflective element in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3(h) is a schematic diagram of a refraction path of another first refraction prism in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another first refractive structure in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a first reflective element in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical transmission method by an optical switch in the embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The embodiment of the application provides an optical switch and a transmission method through the optical switch, which can meet the requirement of larger network switching. The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and in the claims of the present application and in the drawings described above, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It will be appreciated that the data so used may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed, but may include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

all-Optical cross connect (OXC) is a key technology for realizing large-capacity Optical networks and data center networks because it can provide large-scale Optical switching without performing photoelectric conversion, and has the advantages of low energy consumption, large bandwidth and transparent transmission of Optical signals. An optical switch adopting a Three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical Systems (3D-MEMS) is a common method for realizing OXC, and the optical switch is realized by free-space optics, and has the advantages of large port number, compact structure, insensitivity to wavelength, small volume and the like.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a typical structure of a 3D-MEMS optical switch, which specifically includes a pair of fiber collimator arrays and a pair of MEMS micro-mirror arrays, where the pair of fiber collimators are respectively used as an input port and an output port, and the pair of MEMS micro-mirror arrays are used for controlling a reflection direction of a light beam. The optical signal is output from the input end optical fiber collimator array and then is incident on a micro-mirror of the input end MEMS micro-mirror array; each micro-mirror can rotate around the plane of the micro-mirror and reflects the optical signal to a certain micro-mirror of the output end MEMS micro-mirror array; the micro-mirror at the output end reflects the light beam to the corresponding output port on the output end optical fiber collimator array by deflecting a proper angle, and the optical signal can be output from the optical fiber of the output port. In this way, the optical signal is switched from any input port to any output port.

Generally, all the micro mirrors in the whole MEMS micro mirror array are the same, that is, the maximum rotatable angle of each micro mirror is the same, so if the size of the optical switch is to be increased, the maximum rotatable capability of each micro mirror must be increased, but the implementation is difficult due to the process level, the driving principle and the application conditions, so that the current 3D-MEMS optical switch is difficult to meet the increasing network switching requirement.

Therefore, the embodiment of the application provides an optical switch which can meet the requirement of larger network switching.

Referring to fig. 2, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical switch 20, where the optical switch 20 includes: a first fiber collimator 21, a first refractive structure 22, a first reflective structure 23, a second refractive structure 24, a second reflective structure 25, and a second fiber collimator 26.

The first fiber collimator 21 is used for guiding an input optical signal to the first refractive structure 22; the first refraction structure 22 is used for refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator 21 to the first reflection structure 23, and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure 23 to the second refraction structure 24; the second refractive structure 24 is configured to refract the optical signal from the first refractive structure 22 to the second reflective structure 25, and refract the optical signal reflected by the second reflective structure 25 to the second fiber collimator 26; the second fiber collimator 26 is for outputting the optical signal from the second refractive structure.

The first reflective structure 23 includes N first reflective elements 231, and the second reflective structure 25 includes M second reflective elements 251, where N and M are integers greater than 1. Since the light beam travels along a straight line, the light signal emitted from a certain port of the first fiber collimator 21 will only be incident on a single first reflecting element 231 on the first reflecting structure 23, and therefore the first fiber collimator 21 includes N first ports 211, i.e., each first port 211 corresponds to a single first reflecting element 231. Accordingly, an optical signal reflected by a second reflective element 251 on the second reflective structure 25 will only be incident on a single second port 261 of the second fiber collimator 26, and thus the second fiber collimator 26 includes M second ports 261.

It should be noted that the first fiber collimator 21 is used to perform beam shaping on the input optical signals to reduce the divergence angle, so that the optical signals can propagate in free space for a long distance without being rapidly dispersed. The second optical collimator 26 is used for receiving the signal light transmitted from the free space, performing beam transformation on the received light beam, and implementing coupling of the signal light from the free space to the optical fiber to complete output of the optical signal. In addition, the first ports 211 on the first optical fiber collimator 21 and the second ports 261 on the second optical fiber collimator 26 may be arranged in an array, and then the corresponding first reflective elements 231 on the first reflective structure 23 and the corresponding second reflective elements 251 on the second reflective structure 25 are also arranged in an array, which may include multiple rows and multiple columns, for example, N first reflective elements 231 may be arranged in an array of 8 × 8, and M second reflective elements may be arranged in an array of 10 × 10, where the specific number of rows and columns is not limited herein.

To realize the exchange of any one first port 211 on the first fiber collimator 21 to any one second port 261 on the second fiber collimator 26, it is required that each first reflecting element 231 can reflect the optical signal from the corresponding first port 211 to any one second reflecting element 251 on the second reflecting structure 25 by rotating, and the second reflecting element 251 can further reflect the received optical signal to the corresponding second port 261 by rotating.

In the embodiment of the present application, taking the leftmost first reflective element 231 on the first reflective structure 23 shown in fig. 2 as an example, assuming that there is no first refractive structure 22, the first reflective element 231 reflects the optical signal from the first port 211 to the leftmost second reflective element 251 on the second reflective structure along the optical path shown by the dotted line in fig. 2; if the first refractive structure 22 is provided, the optical signal reflected by the first reflective element 231 is refracted by the first refractive structure 22 and then guided to the second reflective element 251 located at the middle position on the second reflective structure 25 along the optical path shown by the solid line in fig. 2. Since the refracted optical path after refraction is already deflected to a certain degree with respect to the original reflected optical path, the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element 231 can be guided to more second reflecting elements 251 on the second reflecting structure 25 based on the maximum rotation capability of the first reflecting element 231, thereby meeting the requirement of larger network switching. It will be appreciated that the maximum rotation requirement of each first reflective element 231 may also be reduced to some extent based on the same network switching requirements.

While the overall structure of the optical switch 20 is described above, the following description is provided for the specific structure of the first refractive structure 22 and the second refractive structure 24 in the optical switch 20:

referring to fig. 3(a), fig. 3(a) is a schematic diagram of a first refractive structure 22. The first refractive structure 22 is formed by a plurality of first refractive elements 221, wherein the number of the first refractive elements 221 may be the same as the number of the first reflective elements 231, that is, the first refractive elements 221 are in one-to-one correspondence with the first reflective elements 231, for example, the first reflective structure 23 is a 5 × 5 first reflective element array, and then the first refractive structure 22 is a 5 × 5 first reflective element array as shown in fig. 3 (a). Specifically, each first refraction element 221 may be a first refraction prism having a first refraction surface, and each first refraction prism may correspond to the same first bottom surface, which is parallel to the first reflection structure 23. A first included angle is formed between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface, and the first included angle is larger than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees.

Referring to fig. 3(b), taking a first refractive prism as an example, an optical signal is incident on a first refractive surface of the first refractive prism at an angle θ 1, the optical signal is incident on a first bottom surface at an angle θ 3 after being refracted by the first refractive surface, the optical signal reflected by the first reflective element is incident on the first refractive surface at an angle θ 4 after passing through the first bottom surface, and the optical signal is further emitted at an angle θ 5 after being refracted by the first refractive surface.

It should be noted that, referring to fig. 3(c), if the first refractive prism is not provided, and the light signal incident at the angle β still exits at the angle β after being reflected by the first reflective element, the angle difference θ between the angle of the exiting light and the angle β after the first refractive prism is provided can be calculated by the following formula.

The formula may be:

where α is a first angle between the first refractive surface and the first bottom surface, β is an incident angle of the light with respect to a normal to the first reflective element, and n is a refractive index of the first refractive prism.

For example, assuming that the incident angle β is 30 degrees and the maximum rotation power of the first reflecting element is ± 12 degrees before the first refractive prism is not added, the maximum rotation power of the first reflecting element can be reduced to ± 6 degrees by providing the first refractive prism having the refractive index of 1.446 and the first included angle of 9.2 degrees. Alternatively, a first refractive prism having a refractive index of 3.48 and a first included angle of 1.85 degrees may be provided, thereby achieving the same effect. It can be understood that the maximum rotation requirement of the first reflecting element can be satisfied by properly designing the refractive index of the first refractive prism and the first included angle.

It should be noted that, referring to fig. 3(d), the first refractive structure 22 includes a plurality of first refractive prisms thereon. In order to reduce the maximum rotation requirement of the corresponding first reflecting element 231 for the leftmost first refractive prism on the first reflecting structure 22, the light beam refracted by the first refractive prism and emitted toward the second reflecting structure 25 needs to be deflected to the right relative to the original reflected light beam. In order to reduce the maximum rotation requirement of the corresponding first reflecting element 231 for the rightmost first refractive prism on the first reflecting structure 22, the light beam refracted by the first refractive prism and emitted to the second reflecting structure 25 needs to be deflected leftward relative to the original reflected light beam, and specifically, the optical path of the rightmost first refractive prism on the first reflecting structure 22 may be as shown in fig. 3 (e). It is understood that the angles at which the first refractive prism emits light beams to the second refractive prism at different positions on the first refractive structure 22 may also be different, as will be further described below.

The length of the connection line between the first port 211 of each first fiber collimator 21 and the corresponding first reflecting element 231 is called a first distance, and the average of the N first distances is a first distance threshold. Referring further to fig. 3(f), the first bottom surface of the first refractive prism is closer to the first reflective element than the first refractive surface. If the first distance is smaller than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface (as shown in fig. 3(b), θ 5 is larger than θ 1); if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is equal to the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface (the optical path of the incident light beam is not changed by the first refraction surface); if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface (as shown in fig. 3(e), θ 5 is smaller than θ 1).

In order to realize the optical path shown in fig. 3 b, a first angle between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface is an acute angle (positive angle) formed by counterclockwise deflecting the first refraction surface with respect to the first bottom surface. If the optical path is realized as shown in fig. 3(e), a first included angle between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface is an acute angle (the included angle is negative) formed by clockwise deflection of the first refraction surface relative to the first bottom surface. If the first refraction surface does not change the light path of the incident light beam, the first included angle between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface is 0. For example, fig. 3(f) includes 7 first reflection elements and 7 corresponding first refraction prisms, where the distance from the fourth first reflection element from the left to the corresponding first port is equal to the first distance threshold, and then the first included angle corresponding to the corresponding fourth first refraction prism is 0 degree; the distances from the three first reflecting elements on the left to the corresponding first ports are smaller than a first distance threshold value, so that first included angles corresponding to the three first refractive prisms on the left are positive; distances from the three first reflecting elements on the right to the corresponding first ports are greater than a first distance threshold, and then first included angles corresponding to the three first refractive prisms on the right are negative.

Referring to fig. 3(g), unlike the above fig. 3(f), the first refractive surface of the first refractive prism in fig. 3(g) is closer to the first reflective element than the first bottom surface. Based on the structure shown in fig. 3(g), the description of the angle of the light beam emitted from the first refraction prism to the second refraction prism is similar to the description related to fig. 3(f), for example, if the first distance is smaller than the first distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal output by the fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface (as shown in fig. 3(h), θ 5 is larger than θ 1). For the case that the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold and the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, reference may be made to the related description in fig. 3(f), which is not repeated herein.

In addition, for different first refractive prisms, the first included angle may be different in direction and may also be different in size. Specifically, if the absolute value of the difference between the first distance associated with one of the first reflective elements and the first distance threshold is greater than the absolute value of the difference between the first distance associated with the other one of the first reflective elements and the first distance threshold, the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the one of the first reflective elements is greater than the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the other one of the first reflective elements. Taking fig. 3(f) as an example, since the turning requirement of the first refraction prisms closer to the two sides is greater than that of the first refraction prism located in the middle, the light beams refracted by the first refraction prisms closer to the two sides are more deflected relative to the initial reflected light beams, and therefore the first included angles of the first refraction prisms closer to the two sides are larger.

It should be noted that the description of the second refractive structure 24 is similar to the description of the first refractive structure 22 in fig. 3(a) to 3(h), and detailed description thereof is omitted here. In addition, the first refractive structure 22 and the second refractive structure 24 may be combined in various ways, for example, the first refractive structure 22 and the second refractive structure 24 may be both as shown in fig. 3 (f); alternatively, the first refractive structure 22 and the second refractive structure 24 may be both as shown in fig. 3 (g); alternatively, the first refractive structure 22 may be as shown in fig. 3(f), and the second refractive structure 24 may be as shown in fig. 3 (g); alternatively, the first refraction structure 22 may have a structure as shown in fig. 3(g), and the second refraction structure 24 may have a structure as shown in fig. 3 (f). In practical applications, any combination of the above methods can be performed, and the method is not limited herein.

Referring to the schematic view of the alternative first refractive structure 22 (or the second refractive structure 24) shown in fig. 4, different from fig. 3(a), the number of the first refractive elements 221 and the number of the first reflective elements 231 on the first refractive structure 22 may also be different, that is, each first refractive element 221 may correspond to a plurality of first reflective elements 231. This design reduces the number of first refractive elements 221 and facilitates processing.

It should be noted that, similar to the above description, the angles of the light beams emitted from the first refraction prism to the second refraction prism may be different, and different from the above description, the first distance may be an average value of the distances between each first reflection element 231 corresponding to the first refraction element 221 and the first port 211, and based on the first distance defined in this embodiment, the description of the angles of the light beams emitted from the first refraction prism to the second refraction prism is similar to the description corresponding to the above fig. 3(f) and fig. 3(g), and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Optionally, the first refractive structure 22 and the first reflective structure 23 may be encapsulated to form a first sealing structure, and similarly, the second refractive structure 24 and the second reflective structure 25 may also be encapsulated to form a second sealing structure, so as to achieve a sealing effect of dust prevention and moisture insulation, and the structure is more stable.

Optionally, the first refractive structure 22 and the second refractive structure 24 may be made of a light-transmitting material such as glass or silicon.

Referring to fig. 5, the structure of the first reflective element 231 and the second reflective element 251 will be described. Taking the first reflective element 231 as an example, the first reflective element 231 includes a reflector, a frame, a base, a first cantilever, a second cantilever, a third cantilever and a fourth cantilever, wherein two ends of the reflector are respectively connected to the frame through the first cantilever and the second cantilever, and two ends of the frame are respectively connected to the base through the third cantilever and the fourth cantilever. Specifically, first cantilever beam and second cantilever beam can drive the speculum and rotate around the y direction, and third cantilever beam and fourth cantilever beam can drive the picture frame and then drive the speculum and rotate around the x direction, and it can be understood that the x direction is perpendicular with the y direction, and first cantilever beam and second cantilever beam set up along the y direction, and third cantilever beam and fourth cantilever beam set up along the x direction. In this way, the first reflective element 231 and the second reflective element 251 can rotate around the plane thereof respectively.

Referring now to fig. 6, the embodiment shown in fig. 6 provides a method for transmitting signals through an optical switch. The optical switch includes:

the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements, N is an integer larger than 1, and M is an integer larger than 1; the method comprises the following steps:

601. guiding an input optical signal to a first refraction structure through a first optical fiber collimator;

602. refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to a first reflection structure through a first refraction structure, and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to a second refraction structure;

603. the optical signal from the first refraction structure is refracted to the second reflection structure through the second refraction structure, and the optical signal reflected by the second reflection structure is refracted to the second optical fiber collimator;

604. the optical signal from the second refractive structure is output through a second fiber collimator.

In the embodiment of the application, by rotating each first reflecting element on the first reflecting structure, the optical signal reflected by each first reflecting element is guided to any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure through the first refracting structure and the second refracting structure; and rotating any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure to enable the optical signal reflected by any second reflecting element to be guided to the second optical fiber collimator through the second refracting structure.

Specifically, the optical switch in the embodiment of the present application may be the optical switch structure in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 to 5, and details are not repeated here.

It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used for illustrating the technical solutions of the present application, and not for limiting the same. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and such modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the corresponding technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical switch, comprising: the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements, N is an integer larger than 1, and M is an integer larger than 1;

the first optical fiber collimator is used for guiding an input optical signal to the first refraction structure;

the first refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first optical fiber collimator to the first reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflection structure to the second refraction structure;

the second refraction structure is used for refracting the optical signal from the first refraction structure to the second reflection structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the second reflection structure to the second optical fiber collimator;

the second optical fiber collimator is used for outputting an optical signal from the second refraction structure;

each first reflecting element on the first reflecting structure rotates, so that the optical signal reflected by each first reflecting element is guided to any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure through the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure;

and the second reflecting structure is provided with any second reflecting element, so that the optical signal reflected by any second reflecting element is guided to the second optical fiber collimator through the second refraction structure by rotating.

2. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein the first refractive structure comprises the N first refractive elements, the second refractive structure comprises the M second refractive elements, the N first reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first refractive elements, and the M second reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the M second refractive elements.

3. The optical switch of claim 2,

each first refraction element is a first refraction prism, each first refraction prism comprises a first refraction surface and a first bottom surface, a first included angle is formed between the first refraction surface and the first bottom surface, the first bottom surface is parallel to the first reflection structure, and the first included angle is larger than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees;

every the second refraction component is second refraction prism, every the second refraction prism includes second refraction face and second bottom surface, the second refraction face with the second contained angle has between the second bottom surface, the second bottom surface with second reflection configuration is parallel, the second contained angle is more than or equal to 0 degree and is less than 90 degrees.

4. The optical switch of claim 3, wherein the first fiber collimator includes N first ports, the N first ports corresponding one-to-one to the N first reflective elements, and the second fiber collimator includes M second ports, the M second ports corresponding one-to-one to the M second reflective elements.

5. The optical switch of claim 4,

the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is larger than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and each first port has a first distance with the corresponding first reflection element;

if the first distance is smaller than a first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is smaller than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is equal to an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface; if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first refraction surface is greater than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflection element on the first refraction surface;

the distance between the second refraction surface and the second reflection structure is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure, and a second distance is reserved between each second port and the corresponding second reflection element;

if the second distance is smaller than a second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is larger than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface; if the second distance is equal to the second distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is equal to an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface; if the second distance is greater than the second distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal from the first refraction surface on the second refraction surface is smaller than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflection element on the second refraction surface.

6. The optical switch of claim 4,

the distance between the first refraction surface and the first reflection structure is smaller than the distance between the first bottom surface and the first reflection structure, and each first port has a first distance with the corresponding first reflection element;

if the first distance is smaller than a first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is smaller than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface; if the first distance is equal to the first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is equal to an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface; if the first distance is greater than the first distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal output by the first optical fiber collimator on the first bottom surface is greater than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the first reflecting element on the first bottom surface;

the distance between the second refraction surface and the second reflection structure is smaller than the distance between the second bottom surface and the second reflection structure, and a second distance is reserved between each second port and the corresponding second reflection element;

if the second distance is smaller than a second distance threshold, the incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface at the second bottom surface is larger than the exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element at the second bottom surface; if the second distance is equal to the second distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface at the second bottom surface is equal to an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element at the second bottom surface; if the second distance is greater than the second distance threshold, an incident angle of the optical signal from the first bottom surface at the second bottom surface is smaller than an exit angle of the optical signal reflected by the second reflecting element at the second bottom surface.

7. An optical switch according to claim 5 or 6,

if the absolute value of the difference between the first distance associated with one of the N first reflecting elements and the first distance threshold is greater than the absolute value of the difference between the first distance associated with another one of the N first reflecting elements and the first distance threshold, the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the one of the N first reflecting elements is greater than the first included angle of the first refractive prism corresponding to the another one of the N first reflecting elements;

if the absolute value of the difference between the second distance associated with one of the M second reflecting elements and the second distance threshold is greater than the absolute value of the difference between the second distance associated with another one of the M second reflecting elements and the second distance threshold, the second included angle of the second refractive prism corresponding to the one of the M second reflecting elements is greater than the second included angle of the second refractive prism corresponding to the another one of the M second reflecting elements.

8. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein the first refractive structure comprises K first refractive elements, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than N, each of the first refractive elements corresponding to at least one of the first reflective elements, and the second refractive structure comprises L second refractive elements, L being an integer greater than 1 and less than M, each of the second refractive elements corresponding to at least one of the second reflective elements.

9. An optical switch according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8, wherein the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure are made of glass or silicon.

10. An optical switch according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8, wherein said first reflective structure and said first refractive structure form a first sealed structure and said second reflective structure and said second refractive structure form a second sealed structure.

11. A method of signal transmission through an optical switch, the optical switch comprising: the optical fiber collimator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a second optical fiber collimator, a first refraction structure, a first reflection structure, a second refraction structure and a second reflection structure, wherein the first reflection structure comprises N first reflection elements, the second reflection structure comprises M second reflection elements, N is an integer larger than 1, and M is an integer larger than 1; the method comprises the following steps:

directing an input optical signal through the first fiber collimator to the first refractive structure;

refracting, by the first refractive structure, the optical signal from the first fiber collimator to the first reflective structure and refracting the optical signal reflected by the first reflective structure to the second refractive structure;

refracting, by the second refractive structure, the optical signal from the first refractive structure to the second reflective structure, and refracting the optical signal reflected by the second reflective structure to the second fiber collimator;

outputting, by the second fiber collimator, an optical signal from the second refractive structure;

by rotating each first reflecting element on the first reflecting structure, the optical signal reflected by each first reflecting element is guided to any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure through the first refractive structure and the second refractive structure;

by rotating any second reflecting element on the second reflecting structure, the optical signal reflected by any second reflecting element is guided to the second optical fiber collimator through the second refraction structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first refractive structure comprises the N first refractive elements, the second refractive structure comprises the M second refractive elements, the N first reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the N first refractive elements, and the M second reflective elements are in one-to-one correspondence with the M second refractive elements.

13. The method of claim 12,

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first fiber collimator includes N first ports, the N first ports corresponding one-to-one with the N first reflective elements, and the second fiber collimator includes M second ports, the M second ports corresponding one-to-one with the M second reflective elements.

15. The method of claim 14,

16. The method of claim 14,

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16,

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first refractive structure comprises K first refractive elements, K being an integer greater than 1 and less than N, each of the first refractive elements corresponding to at least one of the first reflective elements, the second refractive structure comprises L second refractive elements, L being an integer greater than 1 and less than M, each of the second refractive elements corresponding to at least one of the second reflective elements.

19. The method of claim 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 18, wherein the first and second refractive structures are made of glass or silicon.

20. The method of claim 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 18, wherein the first reflective structure and the first refractive structure form a first sealed structure and the second reflective structure and the second refractive structure form a second sealed structure.