WO2002101432A3 - Optical switch with time multiplexing control system architecture - Google Patents

Optical switch with time multiplexing control system architecture Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002101432A3
WO2002101432A3 PCT/US2002/003907 US0203907W WO02101432A3 WO 2002101432 A3 WO2002101432 A3 WO 2002101432A3 US 0203907 W US0203907 W US 0203907W WO 02101432 A3 WO02101432 A3 WO 02101432A3
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
output
input
beams
mems
alignment
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/003907
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002101432A2 (en
Inventor
Steven A Baugh
Dennis M Braden
Douglas E Elerath
Brian K Nash
Samuel C Rogers Jr
Original Assignee
Corning Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Corning Inc filed Critical Corning Inc
Publication of WO2002101432A2 publication Critical patent/WO2002101432A2/en
Publication of WO2002101432A3 publication Critical patent/WO2002101432A3/en

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
    • G02B6/3586—Control or adjustment details, e.g. calibrating
    • G02B6/359—Control or adjustment details, e.g. calibrating of the position of the moving element itself during switching, i.e. without monitoring the switched beams
    • 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
    • G02B6/351—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
    • 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
    • G02B6/3556—NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
    • 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
    • G02B6/3568—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details characterised by the actuating force
    • G02B6/357—Electrostatic force
    • 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]
    • 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
    • H04Q2011/0037—Operation
    • H04Q2011/0039—Electrical control
    • 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
    • H04Q11/0062—Network aspects
    • H04Q2011/0079—Operation or maintenance aspects
    • H04Q2011/0083—Testing; Monitoring

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)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)

Abstract

An optical system for switching a plurality of input communication beams, where each communication beam can be switched from a first output to a second output, and where switching is affected by the use of alignment beams (not the communications beams). This enables the paths to be held even if the associated communication beam is off. The switch includes: n communication beam inputs; n alignment beam inputs; apparatus for generating n alignment beams; apparatus for aligning the communication beams with the alignment beams such that each input communication beam is aligned with a specific alignment beam; an array of n input MEMS, each of which is aligned with a specific communication beam input; an array of n output MEMS; and n outputs, each of which is aligned with a specific output MEMS. The switch also incorporates an apparatus for time sequentially energizing the apparatus for generating the alignment beams. This time multiplexing permits the use of a plurality monolithic high bandwidth, high resolution detectors and a single control system. The first input detector is positioned between the input MEMS and the output MEMS, for sensing the positions of all the alignment beams incident from the input beam directing surfaces. The system also includes a controller which is connected to the input beam directing surface, the output beam directing surface, the input position sensor, an output angular position sensor and an output position sensor. The controller, the output angle position sensor and the output position sensor function in concert to provide the four degrees of control required to properly control the positions of the MEMS.
PCT/US2002/003907 2001-01-17 2002-01-17 Optical switch with time multiplexing control system architecture WO2002101432A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26248901P 2001-01-17 2001-01-17
US60/262,489 2001-01-17
US84976501A 2001-05-04 2001-05-04
US09/849,765 2001-05-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002101432A2 WO2002101432A2 (en) 2002-12-19
WO2002101432A3 true WO2002101432A3 (en) 2003-06-26

Family

ID=26949251

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/003907 WO2002101432A2 (en) 2001-01-17 2002-01-17 Optical switch with time multiplexing control system architecture

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002101432A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6965177B2 (en) * 2003-06-18 2005-11-15 Texas Instruments Incorporated Pulse drive of resonant MEMS devices
US7734127B2 (en) * 2007-03-26 2010-06-08 Trex Enterprises Corp. Optical switch module

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999067666A1 (en) * 1998-06-05 1999-12-29 Astarte Fiber Networks, Inc. Mirror based fiber optic switch and control system
WO2001024384A2 (en) * 1999-09-16 2001-04-05 Astarte Fiber Networks, Inc. Optical switch pathway configuration using control signals
EP1206159A2 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-05-15 Xerox Corporation An improved optical cross switching system
WO2002067027A1 (en) * 2001-01-16 2002-08-29 David Sandler Optical cross connect switch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999067666A1 (en) * 1998-06-05 1999-12-29 Astarte Fiber Networks, Inc. Mirror based fiber optic switch and control system
WO2001024384A2 (en) * 1999-09-16 2001-04-05 Astarte Fiber Networks, Inc. Optical switch pathway configuration using control signals
EP1206159A2 (en) * 2000-11-08 2002-05-15 Xerox Corporation An improved optical cross switching system
WO2002067027A1 (en) * 2001-01-16 2002-08-29 David Sandler Optical cross connect switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002101432A2 (en) 2002-12-19

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