KR100447213B1 - Optical switch - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical system, and more particularly, to an optical switch of an optical transceiver module. The optical switch according to the present invention is formed on the lower substrate, the lower substrate, one or more input / output optical fibers for input / output of the optical signal, and the one or more input / output optical fibers to align and assemble A microstructure, a micro-prism for switching an optical signal input to the input optical fiber to an output optical fiber, and the micro-prism causing a displacement relative to a lower substrate in an in-plane direction. And an anchor for fixing the driver to the driver and the lower substrate.

Description

Optical switch

The present invention relates to an optical system, and more particularly, to an optical switch of an optical transceiver module.

Recently, computer and communication technology, which is an information related technology, is rapidly developing through high speed fiber optic communication capable of transmitting and receiving a large amount of information.

In particular, existing copper transmission lines have been developed in accordance with trends such as high-speed transmission of multimedia information including various types of data such as moving images, voice signals, and text signals, interactive interactive communication environment, and explosive increase in the number of subscribers. The network using the line has reached its limit, and an optical signal type network capable of high-speed transmission at a high carrier frequency is emerging as an alternative.

In addition, the existing communication network that transmits and receives electrical signals has been able to inexpensively configure subscriber data interfaces using integrated circuits such as logic circuits, amplifiers, and switches.

On the other hand, in the case of an optical communication network using light as an information transmission signal, the interface connecting the subscriber and the repeater or the communication service provider is not a logic integrated circuit using an electronic circuit but an optical connector module composed of an optical switch, a photodiode, and a laser diode. It is composed.

Commercially available data interfaces for optical networks include optical fibers, which are transmission lines, and optical transmitters, including optical optic connectors, optical switches, and laser diodes for connecting subscribers. And the like.

Here, in the case of a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) required for the ANSI X3T9.5 standard proposed for use as a backbone optical communication network where high speed and reliability are particularly important as a major application field of the optical switch, reception at the terminal Since the optical signal must be continuously transmitted in the backbone network even when it is disconnected, a bypass for performing a loopback function so that the connected optical communication network is not disconnected even if the input optical signal is not connected to the subscriber terminal. I need a switch.

Such an optical network interface has a disadvantage of being expensive due to precision processing and manufacturing method depending on the assembly of each component. Especially, in the case of the optical switch, which is a core component of the optical data interface, the optical fiber tip on the input side or the output side is mechanically moved. By arranging the optical axis to perform a switching function (switching) it is difficult to miniaturize the size of the switch, has a high power consumption, and has the disadvantage of being expensive.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch that significantly increases the switching speed with a low driving voltage.

According to a structural feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, a lower substrate, formed on the lower substrate, at least one input / output optical fiber for input / output of the optical signal, and the at least one input / output Microstructures for aligning and assembling output optical fibers, micro-prisms for switching optical signals input to the input optical fibers to output optical fibers, and planes causing the micro-prisms to cause displacement relative to the underlying substrate And an anchor for fixing the drive unit to the lower substrate.

Preferably, an anchor is fixed to the driving part to be connected to the lower substrate.

The driving unit may include a fixed electrode unit fixed to the driver substrate, a movable electrode unit which is moved by an electrostatic force generated by an electric field generated by a voltage applied between the fixed electrode unit, and a comb teeth for efficient electrostatic force control. It is comprised including a drive electrode part.

In addition, the movable portion is suspended from the lower substrate by a predetermined spring through an elastic spring for providing a restoring force, and the input / output optical fiber is integrated on the substrate to self-align with the micro-prism. Mounted on the structure and aligned with the optical axis.

The micro-prism is mounted / integrated in the movable part of the driving unit which generates a displacement in a planar direction, and is adjusted to a position that reflects or passes the optical path of the laser beam emitted from the input light source, and is integrated perpendicular to the driver substrate surface. One surface of the micro-prism is formed at an angle that totally reflects the input light.

Further, the micro prisms are arranged in an array and the input / output optical fiber arrays are arranged in an optical axis to form an optical matrix switch having a plurality of input / output ports, wherein the matrix switches are optical signals between any input and any output port. Connect / Block

1 is a perspective view showing an optical switch according to the present invention

2 is a plan view showing an optical switch according to the present invention

3 is a cross-sectional view along the A-B axis of the optical switch according to FIG.

4 is a view showing the driving of the optical switch and the change of the optical path according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a 3x3 optical switch arranged in an array of optical switches according to the present invention

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1: micro prism 2: microstructure

3: movable electrode part 4: fixed electrode part

5: comb teeth drive electrode 6: elastic spring

7 driver board 8 anchor

9: lower substrate 10: movable electrode pad

11: fixed electrode pad 13: input optical fiber

14: first output optical fiber 15: second output optical fiber

Hereinafter, a configuration and an operation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an optical switch according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an optical switch according to the present invention is formed on a lower substrate 9 and at least one input / output optical fiber 13, 14, 15 for input / output of an optical signal. And a fine structure (2) for aligning and assembling the at least one input / output optical fiber (13, 14, 15) and an optical signal input to the input optical fiber (13) for outputting the optical fiber (14, 15). Micro-prism 1 for switching to and in-plane drives 3, 4, 5 causing the micro-prism 1 to be displaced relative to the lower substrate 9. It consists of.

A collimating lens is provided at the distal end of the input optical fiber 13 so that the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber 13 can be collimated in the form of parallel light so that it can be connected to one of the output optical fibers 14 and 15 without spreading. In addition, so-called lens fiber (lensed fiber) in which the function of the collimating lens is integrated is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the switching function of the laser light path is made by the position of the fine prism 1, which is capable of causing a relative displacement with respect to the fixed driver substrate 7. It is formed on the part 3, and the movable electrode part 3 controls the movement by a substrate in-plane micro driver which causes displacement in a direction parallel to the substrate surface.

As a representative example of the substrate plane direction micro driver, a comb-drive electrostatic actuator using a static force as a driving force is used.

The micro driver is a fixed electrode part 4 fixed to the lower substrate 9, and a movable electrode part 3 which is moved by an electrostatic force by an electric field generated by a voltage applied between the fixed electrode part. ) And a comb-shaped drive electrode 5 for efficient electrostatic force control, and the movable electrode part 3 is suspended from the lower substrate 9 by a predetermined gap by an elastic spring 6 for providing a restoring force to the movable part. It has a structure.

The electrostatic force requires an electric field to be applied between the two electrode structures 3, 4 and 5, which applies a voltage between the metal or conductive pads 10 and 11 electrically connected to the movable and fixed electrode portions 3 and 4. Can be adjusted by application.

The input / output optical fibers 13, 14, 15 are mounted on the optical fiber alignment / assembly microstructure 2 integrated on the driver substrate 7 so as to self align with the fine prism 1 so that the optical axis alignment is achieved. Is done.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optical switch according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the A-B axis according to FIG.

2 to 3, the portions of the fixed electrode portion 4 and the movable electrode portion 3 of FIG. 1 fixed above and the portion of the driver substrate 7 where the displacement does not need to be generated may be anchors. It is fixed to the lower substrate 9 through an anchor (8).

On the other hand, the movable electrode portion 3 on which the micro-prism 1 is mounted is released from the lower substrate 9 by a predetermined gap 12 so as to move freely in a direction horizontal to the plane of the driver substrate 7. Configured to do so.

The release interval may be adjusted by the thickness of the portion of the anchor 8 or by the thickness of a sacrificial layer having an etching selectivity with the portion of the anchor 8.

2 shows a cross section of the optical fiber 13 mounted to the optical fiber alignment / assembly microstructure 2.

4 is a view showing the driving of the optical switch and the change of the optical path according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in FIG. 4A, the first output light is located in the optical path of the laser beam emitted from the input optical fiber 13 in which the fine prism 1 is collimated without the driver power applied. The optical path is changed to the fiber 14.

On the contrary, in FIG. 4B, the driver driving voltage is applied, the position of the fine prism 1 is out of the optical path so that the laser beam emitted from the input optical fiber 13 is transferred to another output optical fiber 15. It is switched.

5 is a view showing a 3x3 optical switch arranged in an array of optical switches according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a 3x3 optical switch is an example of an optical matrix switch having any number of input and output ports configured by arranging fine prism optical switches integrated in a plane direction driver in an array form.

The 3x3 optical switch is configured to change the optical path of a laser beam emitted from a specific input optical fiber to an arbitrary port of the output optical fiber and to a row of input optical fibers and a row of desired output optical fiber ports. The fine prism is positioned to change the optical path of the laser beam, and other fine prisms positioned in the optical path actuate the driver to displace the laser beam through without passing through the prism.

Referring to FIG. 5, the optical signals transmitted to the input optical fibers of the first column on the left side are connected to the second optical rows of the second row of the second optical fibers in order to connect the optical signals transmitted to the second optical fibers. Only the fine prisms are kept out of the optical path, and the remaining first row, first column, second row, and third column, second row, operate the constant power driver to displace the microprisms from the optical path. I / O stage connection can be completed.

In addition, the connection of the remaining input and output ports is also implemented by adjusting the displacement of the fine prism located in the optical path.

As shown in Fig. 5, only the fine prism for the connection of a specific input / output port is placed in the reflection state, and the other fine prisms positioned in the optical path of the optical connection operate the drivers so as to deviate from the optical path to manipulate the desired optical connection. do.

As described above, the present invention implements an optical switch, which is a main component of an interface of a transmission / reception module for optical communication, by driving a fine prism using total reflection, and implements a compact and lightweight device through micromachining technology and a semiconductor integrated process. Can reduce the unit cost.

In addition, the power consumption during operation can be significantly lowered, and the optical switch having a bypass function for FDDI and the MxN optical matrix switch having the same can be aligned and assembled with the optical fiber to realize an integrated form.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the examples, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

A lower substrate; At least one input / output optical fiber formed on the lower substrate and configured for input / output of an optical signal; Microstructures to align and assemble the one or more input / output optical fibers; A micro-prism for switching an optical signal input to the input optical fiber to an output optical fiber; An in-plane drive for causing the micro-prism to be displaced relative to the underlying substrate; And an anchor for fixing the driving part to the lower substrate. delete The method of claim 1, The driving unit includes a fixed electrode part fixed to the driver substrate, a movable electrode part moving by an electrostatic force generated by an electric field generated by a voltage applied between the fixed electrode part, and a comb-shaped drive electrode part for efficient electrostatic force control. Optical switch comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein And the movable portion is suspended from a predetermined gap from the lower substrate through an elastic spring for providing a restoring force. The method of claim 1, And the input / output optical fiber is mounted on the microstructure integrated on the driver substrate such that the input / output optical fiber is self aligned with the micro prism. The method of claim 1, And the micro-prism is mounted / integrated in a movable part of the driving unit which generates a displacement in a planar direction, and adjusts the optical prism to a position that reflects or passes an optical path of a laser beam emitted from an input light source. The method of claim 1, And the micro prism is integrated perpendicular to the driver substrate surface, and one surface of the micro prism is formed at an angle that totally reflects the input light. The method of claim 1, And an optical matrix switch having a plurality of input / output ports by arranging the micro prisms in an array and arranging the input / output optical fiber arrays in an optical axis. The method of claim 8, The optical matrix switch connects / blocks an optical signal between any input and any output port.