MULTIPLE FUNCTION DIGITAL OPTICAL SWITCH
First Claim
1. A multiwavelength switch, comprising:
- at least one optical input for receiving an optical beam;
at least two optical outputs;
a dispersion element receiving the optical beam from the optical input and spatially separating the optical beam into a plurality of wavelength components;
a collimating element for collimating the plurality of wavelength components; and
an actuatable optical arrangement receiving the collimated plurality of wavelength components from the collimating element, said actuatable optical arrangement including a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which at least one wavelength component is reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of optical outputs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiwavelength switch is provided. The switch includes at least one optical input for receiving an optical beam and at least two optical outputs. A dispersion element receives the optical beam from the optical input and spatially separates the optical beam into a plurality of wavelength components. A collimating element is provided for collimating the plurality of wavelength components. An actuatable optical arrangement receives the collimated plurality of wavelength components from the collimating element. The actuatable optical arrangement includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which at least one wavelength component is reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of optical outputs.
38 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A multiwavelength switch, comprising:
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at least one optical input for receiving an optical beam; at least two optical outputs; a dispersion element receiving the optical beam from the optical input and spatially separating the optical beam into a plurality of wavelength components; a collimating element for collimating the plurality of wavelength components; and an actuatable optical arrangement receiving the collimated plurality of wavelength components from the collimating element, said actuatable optical arrangement including a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which at least one wavelength component is reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of optical outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An optical switch, comprising:
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at least one optical input for receiving an optical beam; at least three optical outputs; a collimating element for collimating the optical beam; and an actuatable optical arrangement receiving the collimated beam, said actuatable optical arrangement including a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which the optical beam is reflected at least twice before being directed to any selected one or more of the optical outputs, said actuatable optical arrangement having an array of individually actuatable mirror elements selectively positionable in any of three states for reflecting the optical beam.
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17. A method for directing wavelength components of an optical beam from an input port to at least one output port, comprising:
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receiving the optical beam at the input port; spatially separating the wavelength components of the optical beam; collimating the spatially separated wavelength components; directing the collimated wavelength components onto a DMD; selectively actuating individual mirror elements of the DMD to selectively direct individual ones of the wavelength components to at least one optical element that redirects the individual wavelength components back to the DMD; selectively actuating individual ones of the mirror elements onto which the individual wavelength components have been redirected a second time such that at least some of the individual wavelength components are directed to at least one selected output port.
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18. A method for directing wavelength components of an optical beam from an input port to at least one output port, comprising:
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receiving the optical beam at the input port; spatially separating the wavelength components of the optical beam; collimating the spatially separated wavelength components; directing the collimated wavelength components onto a DMD; selectively actuating individual mirror elements of the DMD to determine at least one output port to which individual wavelengths are to be independently directed; directing the individual wavelength components back to the DMD prior to directing them to the at least one output port to selectively attenuate one or more of the individual wavelength components.
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19. An optical switching apparatus, comprising:
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At least two independently operable optical switches, including; at least one first optical input and two first optical outputs associated with a first of the optical switches for selectively switching a first optical beam; at least one second optical input and one second optical output associated with a second of the optical switches for selectively switching a second optical beam; a dispersive element receiving the first and second optical beams from the first and second optical inputs and spatially separating the first and second optical beams into a first and second plurality of wavelength components, respectively; a collimating element for collimating the first and second plurality of wavelength components; and an actuatable optical arrangement receiving the first and second collimated plurality of wavelength components, said actuatable optical arrangement including a digital micromirror device (DMD) from which the wavelength components of the first and second plurality of wavelength components are reflected at least twice before being directed to a selected one of first optical outputs and the second optical output, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification