Beam steering element with built-in detector and system for use thereof
First Claim
1. An optical cross-connect switching system, comprising:
- a first beam steering element with a reflective surface in optical association with a first optical fiber array;
a second beam steering element with a reflective surface in optical association with a second optical fiber array, the second beam steering element optically arranged with the first beam steering element to direct an optical beam from a first optical fiber in the first optical fiber array to a second optical fiber in the second optical fiber array; and
at least one optical detector, associated with the second beam steering element, adapted to provide information about an angle of the first beam steering element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An all-optical cross-connect switching system provides optical switching that may reduce processing requirements by three orders of magnitude over conventional techniques by associating at least one optical detector with an optical beam steering element. In one embodiment, a first beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a first optical fiber array, and a second beam steering element, having a reflective surface in optical association with a second optical fiber array, are optically arranged to direct an optical beam from a first optical fiber in the first optical fiber array to a second optical fiber in the second optical fiber array. The optical detector provides information about a first position of the optical beam on the second beam steering element. Based on this information, the angle of the first beam steering element may be adjusted to cause the optical beam to change to a second position on the second beam steering element.
11 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical cross-connect switching system, comprising:
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a first beam steering element with a reflective surface in optical association with a first optical fiber array;
a second beam steering element with a reflective surface in optical association with a second optical fiber array, the second beam steering element optically arranged with the first beam steering element to direct an optical beam from a first optical fiber in the first optical fiber array to a second optical fiber in the second optical fiber array; and
at least one optical detector, associated with the second beam steering element, adapted to provide information about an angle of the first beam steering element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for steering an optical beam, comprising:
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determining a first position of an optical beam on a beam steering element; and
causing the optical beam to change from the first position to a second position on the beam steering element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for manufacturing an optical beam steering element, comprising:
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configuring an optical detector of semiconductor material;
associating a reflective surface with the semiconductor material; and
configuring at least a portion of the semiconductor material to be a movable beam steering element. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification