Optical add drop multiplexer

• US 20020044722A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Tew, Claude E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12019 characterised by the optical interconnection to or from the AWG devices, e.g. integration or coupling with lasers or photodiodes coupling integrated waveguide to fibre G02B6/30, to optoelectronic element G02B6/42; monolithic integration of integrated waveguides with other optical elements G02B6/12004
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3516 the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Abstract

An optical switch ideally suited for use as an optical add drop multiplexer (OADM). A light beam entering the OADM through a first input fiber (402) is separated by wavelength to yield multiple light beams (902, 904). One light beam (902) is reflected by one or more of the mirrors in mirror array (908). Depending on the position of the mirrors struck by light beam (902), the beam is reflected to a first region of a retro-reflector (910) or a second region (912). When light beam (902) is reflected by the second region (912) of the retro-reflector, it again travels to the mirror array (908) and is then reflected to a wavelength combiner (914) and output on the second (“drop”) output fiber (408). While a first wavelength light beam (902) is reflected to the drop output (408), other wavelengths of light from the first input (402), for example light beam (904), are directed to the “out” optical fiber (406). A first group of mirrors (914) in the array (908) are thus used selectively to switch various wavelengths of the input optical signal to either the “out” optical fiber (406) or the “drop” optical fiber (408). Another group of mirrors (914) works cooperatively with the first group to direct light beams destined for the “drop” output fiber (408) to the wavelength combiner associated with the “drop” output. Other groups of mirrors operate to switch various wavelengths from the second input (404), the “add” fiber, to the first output “out.”

Claims

1. An optical switch comprising:

a first input operable to provide a first input optical signal;

a second input operable to provide a second input optical signal;

a first output operable to transmit either of said first and second signals;

a second output operable to transmit said first signal;

a retro-reflector;

a first deflector operable in a first state to direct said first input optical signal from said first input to a first point on said retro-reflector, said first deflector operable in a second state to direct said first input optical signal to a second point on said retro-reflector;

a second deflector operable to direct said first input optical signal from said second point of said retro-reflector to said second output;

a third deflector operable to direct said second input optical signal from said second input to a third point on said retro-reflector; and

a fourth deflector operable in a first state to direct said first optical input signal from said first point on said retro-reflector to said first output, said fourth deflector operable in a second state to direct said second input optical signal from said third point on said retro-reflector to said first output.

2. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is comprised of at least two separate retro-reflectors.

3. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is comprised of at least three separate retro-reflectors.

4. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is a curved reflecting surface.

5. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said first signal from said first deflector to said second deflector.

6. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said first signal from said first deflector to said fourth deflector.

7. The optical switch of claim 1, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said second signal from said third deflector to said fourth deflector.

8. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single reflective surface.

9. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an array of reflective surfaces.

10. The optical switch of claim 1, said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single array of reflective surfaces.

11. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said second and third deflectors comprised of a fixed reflective surface.

12. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a flat reflective surface.

13. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a curved reflective surface.

14. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a spherical curved reflective surface.

15. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an aspheric curved reflective surface.

16. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first and second inputs comprised of an optical fiber.

17. The optical switch of claim 1, at least one of said first and second outputs comprised of an optical fiber.

19. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is comprised of at least two separate retro-reflectors.

20. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is comprised of at least three separate retro-reflectors.

21. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is a curved reflecting surface.

22. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said first signal from said first deflector to said second deflector.

23. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said first signal from said first deflector to said fourth deflector.

24. The optical switch of claim 18, wherein said retro-reflector is operable to focus said second signal from said third deflector to said fourth deflector.

25. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single reflective surface.

26. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an array of reflective surfaces.

27. The optical switch of claim 18, said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single array of reflective surfaces.

28. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said second and third deflectors comprised of a fixed reflective surface.

29. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a flat reflective surface.

30. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a curved reflective surface.

31. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a spherical curved reflective surface.

32. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an aspheric curved reflective surface.

33. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a linear array of reflective surfaces, said linear array comprised of portions of said array, each said portion selectively operable to deflect one of said input signal components.

34. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an area array of reflective surfaces.

35. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first and second inputs comprised of an optical fiber.

36. The optical switch of claim 18, at least one of said first and second outputs comprised of an optical fiber.

37. The optical switch of claim 18, further comprising at least one optical fiber to direct at least one signal component from said signal separator to said first deflector.

38. The optical switch of claim 18, said signal separator further comprising a grating.

39. The optical switch of claim 18, said signal separator further comprising a prism.

40. The optical switch of claim 18, said signal separator further comprising a hologram.

41. The optical switch of claim 18, said signal separator further comprising an arrayed waveguide grating.

18. An optical switch comprising:

a first input operable to provide a first input optical signal;

a second input operable to provide a second input optical signal;

a first output operable to transmit either of said first and second signals;

a second output operable to transmit said first signal;

a retro-reflector;

a signal separator operable to receive said first input optical signal and to separate said first input optical signal into at least two first input signal components;

a first deflector operable in a first state to direct at least one said first input signal component from said first input to a first region of said retro-reflector, said first deflector operable in a second state to direct at least one said first input signal component from said first input to a second region of said retro-reflector;

a second deflector operable to direct said at least one said first input signal component from said second region of said retro-reflector to said second output;

a third deflector operable to direct at least one component of said second input optical signal from said second input to a third region of said retro-reflector; and

a fourth deflector operable in a first state to direct said at least one said first input signal component from said first region of said retro-reflector to said first output, said fourth deflector operable in a second state to direct said second input optical signal from said third region of said retro-reflector to said first output.

42. An optical switch comprising:

a first input operable to provide a first input optical signal;

a second input operable to provide a second input optical signal;

a first output operable to transmit either of said first and second signals;

a second output operable to transmit said first signal;

a first deflector;

a second deflector;

a third deflector;

a fourth deflector;

said first deflector operable in a first state to direct said first input optical signal from said first input to said fourth deflector, said first deflector operable in a second state to direct said first input optical signal to said second deflector;

said second deflector operable to direct said first input optical signal from said first deflector to said second output;

said third deflector operable to direct said second input optical signal from said second input to said fourth deflector; and

said fourth deflector operable in a first state to direct said first optical input signal from said first deflector to said first output, said fourth deflector operable in a second state to direct said second input optical signal from said third deflector to said first output.

43. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single reflective surface.

44. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an array of reflective surfaces.

45. The optical switch of claim 42, said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single array of reflective surfaces.

46. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said second and third deflectors comprised of a fixed reflective surface.

47. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a flat reflective surface.

48. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a curved reflective surface.

49. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a spherical curved reflective surface.

50. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an aspherical reflective surface.

51. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first and second inputs comprised of an optical fiber.

52. The optical switch of claim 42, at least one of said first and second outputs comprised of an optical fiber.

53. An optical switch comprising:

a first input operable to provide a first input optical signal;

a second input operable to provide a second input optical signal;

a first output operable to transmit either of said first and second signals;

a second output operable to transmit said first signal;

a signal separator operable to receive said first input optical signal and to separate said first input optical signal into at least two first input signal components;

a first deflector;

a second deflector;

a third deflector;

a fourth deflector;

said first deflector operable in a first state to direct at least one said first input signal component from said first input to said second deflector, said first deflector operable in a second state to direct at least one said first input signal component from said first input to said fourth deflector;

said second deflector operable to direct said at least one said first input signal component from first deflector to said second output;

said third deflector operable to direct at least one component of said second input optical signal from said second input to said fourth deflector; and

said fourth deflector operable in a first state to direct said at least one said first input signal component from said first deflector to said first output, said fourth deflector operable in a second state to direct said second input optical signal from said third deflector to said first output.

54. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single reflective surface.

55. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an array of reflective surfaces.

56. The optical switch of claim 53, said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a single array of reflective surfaces.

57. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said second and third deflectors comprised of a fixed reflective surface.

58. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a flat reflective surface.

59. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a curved reflective surface.

60. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a spherical curved reflective surface.

61. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an aspherical reflective surface.

62. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of a linear array of reflective surfaces, said linear array comprised of portions of said array, each said portion selectively operable to deflect one of said input signal components.

63. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth deflectors comprised of an area array of reflective surfaces.

64. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first and second inputs comprised of an optical fiber.

65. The optical switch of claim 53, at least one of said first and second outputs comprised of an optical fiber.

66. The optical switch of claim 53, further comprising at least one optical fiber to direct at least one signal component from said signal separator to said first deflector.

67. The optical switch of claim 53, said signal separator further comprising a grating.

68. The optical switch of claim 53, said signal separator further comprising a prism.

69. The optical switch of claim 53, said signal separator further comprising a hologram.

70. The optical switch of claim 53, said signal separator further comprising an arrayed waveguide grating.