Methods and Apparatus to Make Substantially Uniform Losses in Optical Cross Connects

• US 20080292241A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Chen, Jerry C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/352 the reflective optical element having a shaped reflective surface, e.g. a reflective element comprising several reflective surfaces or facets that function together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array 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

Abstract

A method for cross connecting optical signals includes using a common beam steerer to direct a set of optical signals from a set of input ports to a set of output ports. The method further includes adjusting a curvature of the common beam steerer so that paths of the optical signals have substantially the same effective path length.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cross connecting optical signals, comprising:

a first plurality of ports, members of the first plurality of ports are adapted for at least one of receiving, transmitting optical signals;

a second plurality of ports, members of the second plurality of ports are adapted for at least one of receiving, transmitting optical signals; and

a common beam steerer having a curved surface, wherein the first and second pluralities of ports are positioned relative to the common beam steerer so that a plurality of paths of optical signals transmitted between the members of the first and second pluralities of ports and steered by the common beam steerer has substantially the same effective path length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of ports is confined to a plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of ports is confined to a curve.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the curve is based on at least one of a R and z values.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein R is a radius of the curve.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein z is a minimum optical path length of the plurality of paths of optical signals between the members of the first and second pluralities of ports and steered by the common beam steerer.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the curve is spherical.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the curve is non-spherical.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the curve is parabolic.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein R<

>

z.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the common beam steerer has a reflective surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the common beam steerer is a lens.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved surface is based on at least one of R and z values.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein R is a radius of the curved surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein z is a minimum optical path length of the plurality of paths of optical signals transmitted between the members of the first and second pluralities of ports and steered by the common beam steerer.

16-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus for cross connecting optical signals, comprising:

a first input port;

a second input port;

a first output port;

a second output port;

a first beam steerer, adapted to receive a first optical signal from the first input port and direct the first optical signal to the first output port;

a second beam steerer, adapted to receive a second optical signal from the second input port and direct the second optical signal to the second output port; and

a first collimator adapted to collimate the first optical signal so that a path of the first optical signal has substantially the same insertion loss as a path of the second optical signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a second collimator adapted to collimate the second optical signal so that a path of the second optical signal has substantially the same insertion loss as a path of the first optical signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first collimator is a lens.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second collimator is a lens.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second beam steerers have reflective surfaces.