M X N WSS WITH REDUCED OPTICS SIZE
First Claim
1. A wavelength selective switch module comprising:
- a first plurality of ports comprising M ports and a second plurality of ports comprising N ports, at least one of the ports in the first and second pluralities for providing a multiplexed light beam having K wavelength channels, where K, M, and N are integer numbers greater than one;
a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of the first and second elements having optical power disposed such that light transmitted to or from the first plurality of ports passes through a common point, and is substantially focused at a first focal plane, the common point optically disposed between the first and second elements having optical power, the first focal plane spatially separated from the common point;
a wavelength dispersive element for spatially separating the multiplexed light beam into a plurality of wavelength channel sub-beams;
a first switching array including M rows, each row including K switching elements, each switching element in the first switching array for redirecting a different wavelength channel sub-beam incident thereon at a predetermined angle;
a second beam relayer for relaying light beams between the first focal plane, the wavelength dispersive element, and the first switching array, the second beam relayer including at least one element having optical power, each of the wavelength dispersive element and the first switching array disposed substantially one focal length away from the at least one element having optical power; and
,a second switching array including N switching elements, each switching element in the second switching array for redirecting wavelength channel sub-beams incident thereon at a predetermined angle, the second switching array including an optical by-pass disposed at the common point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS) module capable of independently routing any wavelength channel from any input port to any output port is provided. The M×N WSS includes a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of which is disposed such that light transmitted to or from a first plurality of ports passes through a common point. The M×N WSS also includes a wavelength dispersive element, a first switching array having M rows including K switching elements, a second beam relayer, and a second switching array including N switching elements. The second switching array includes an optical by-pass disposed at the common point, which provides means for separating the input and output beams of light, and which allows both the input and output optical beams to traverse similar paths throughout the optical train.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wavelength selective switch module comprising:
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a first plurality of ports comprising M ports and a second plurality of ports comprising N ports, at least one of the ports in the first and second pluralities for providing a multiplexed light beam having K wavelength channels, where K, M, and N are integer numbers greater than one; a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of the first and second elements having optical power disposed such that light transmitted to or from the first plurality of ports passes through a common point, and is substantially focused at a first focal plane, the common point optically disposed between the first and second elements having optical power, the first focal plane spatially separated from the common point; a wavelength dispersive element for spatially separating the multiplexed light beam into a plurality of wavelength channel sub-beams; a first switching array including M rows, each row including K switching elements, each switching element in the first switching array for redirecting a different wavelength channel sub-beam incident thereon at a predetermined angle; a second beam relayer for relaying light beams between the first focal plane, the wavelength dispersive element, and the first switching array, the second beam relayer including at least one element having optical power, each of the wavelength dispersive element and the first switching array disposed substantially one focal length away from the at least one element having optical power; and
,a second switching array including N switching elements, each switching element in the second switching array for redirecting wavelength channel sub-beams incident thereon at a predetermined angle, the second switching array including an optical by-pass disposed at the common point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A wavelength selective switch module comprising:
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a first plurality of ports; a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, the first beam relayer for forcing light beams launched from or to the first plurality of ports to intersect at a common point, the first and second elements having optical power disposed such that light transmitted from the first plurality of ports is substantially focused at a first plane, the common point optically disposed between the first and second elements having optical power, the common point spatially separated from the first plane; a wavelength dispersive element for spatially separating a multiplexed beam of light into a plurality of wavelength channel sub-beams; a first switching array including a first plurality of switching elements, each switching element in the first switching array for redirecting a different wavelength channel sub-beam transmitted from the wavelength dispersive element at a predetermined angle; a second beam relayer for relaying light between the first plane, the wavelength dispersive element, and the first switching array, the second beam relayer including at least one element having optical power; and a second switching array including a second plurality of switching elements, each switching element in the second switching array for redirecting light to or from a second other plurality of ports; wherein the second switching array is disposed about the common point such that light propagating in a first propagating direction towards the first plane circumvents the switching elements in the second switching array, whereas light propagating in a second opposite propagating direction is redirected by the switching elements in the second switching array in dependence upon an angle at which it was redirected away from the first switching array.
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Specification