Apparatus for switching optical signals and method of operation

• US 5,647,033 A
• Filed: 05/18/1995
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optical Switch Corporation
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Laughlin
• Inventors: Laughlin, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US08/443,785
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16, 385/18, 250/227.16
• US Class Current: 385/16
• 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 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3578 Piezoelectric force piezoelectric forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0858; piezo-optic devices G02F1/0131
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus (74 & 200) for switching an optical signal from an input optical fiber (210) to one of a plurality of output optical fibers (214 & 216). The apparatus (74 & 200) includes a collimator (76) for collimating an input optical signal into a collimated beam (216) at an angle with respect to a reference and a decollimator (78) for focusing the collimated beam to an output optical signal (220). The present invention also includes a reflector (92, 208, 218, & 222) for reflecting the collimated beam. The reflector (92 & 208) has a plurality of positions for changing the angle of the collimated beam (216) with respect to the reference so that the output optical signal (220) is focused on one of the plurality of output optical fibers (214 & 216).

Claims

1. An apparatus for switching an input optical signal to one of a plurality of output optical locations, the apparatus comprising:

a collimating lens for collimating the input optical signal into a collimated beam;

a reflector for reflecting the collimated beam, the reflector having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount to direct the collimated beam to a selected one of the output optical locations; and

a decollimating lens separate from the collimating lens and the reflector for decollimating and focusing the collimated beam to the selected output optical location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collimating lens comprises a GRIN lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decollimating lens comprises a GRIN lens.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reflector comprises a mirror.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator responsive to a control signal for moving the reflector between the plurality of positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the actuator comprises a piezo-electrical device.

7. An apparatus for switching an input optical signal to one of a plurality of output optical locations, the apparatus comprising:

a lens for collimating the input optical signal into a collimated beam;

a return reflector for reflecting the collimated beam; and

a reflector for reflecting the collimated beam after reflection by the return reflector, the reflector having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount to direct the collimated beam to a selected one of the output optical locations.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the lens is further operable to decollimate and focus the collimated beam to the selected output optical location after reflection by the return reflector and the reflector.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the lens comprises a GRIN lens.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the return reflector and the reflector comprise mirrors.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an actuator responsive to a control signal for moving the reflector between the plurality of positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises a piezo-electrical device.

13. An apparatus for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical locations, the apparatus comprising:

a collimating lens for collimating each input optical signal into a collimated beam;

a reflector for reflecting each collimated beam, the reflector having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of each collimated beam by a selected amount to direct each collimated beam to a selected one of the output optical locations; and

a decollimating lens separate from the collimating lens and the reflector for decollimating and focusing each collimated beam to the selected output optical location.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a return loop coupled to the collimating lens and decollimating lens, the return loop operable to route an optical signal from the decollimating lens to the collimating lens.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the collimating lens comprises a GRIN lens.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the decollimating lens comprises a GRIN lens.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the reflector comprises a mirror.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a return loop having a first end and a second end, both the first end and second end are coupled to the decollimating lens, the return loop operable to route an optical signal from the first end to the second end.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an actuator responsive to a control signal for moving the reflector between the plurality of positions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the actuator comprises a piezo-electrical device.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a first return loop having a first end coupled to a first selected output optical location and a second end coupled to the decollimating lens;

a second return loop having a first end coupled to a second selected output optical location and a second end coupled to the decollimating lens; and

the first return loop and the second return loop operable to route an optical signal from their respective first end to their respective second end.

22. An apparatus for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical locations, the apparatus comprising:

a lens for collimating each input optical signal into a collimated beam;

a return reflector for reflecting each collimated beam; and

a reflector for reflecting each collimated beam after reflection by the return reflector, the reflector having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of each collimated beam by a selected amount to direct each collimated beam to a selected one of the output optical locations.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the lens is further operable to decollimate and focus each collimated beam to the selected output optical location after reflection by the return reflector and the reflector.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the return reflector and reflector comprise mirrors.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an actuator responsive to a control signal for moving the reflector between the plurality of positions.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the actuator comprises a piezo-electrical device.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a return loop having a first end and a second end, both the first end and second end are coupled to the lens, the return loop operable to route an optical signal from the first end to the second end.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the first end of the return loop is coupled to the selected one of the output optical locations.

29. A method for switching an input optical signal to one of a plurality of output optical locations, the method comprising:

collimating the input optical signal into a collimated beam using a collimating lens;

changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount using a movable reflector, the movable reflector having a plurality of positions with each position changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount to direct the beam to a selected one of the output optical locations; and

decollimating and focusing the collimated beam to the selected one of the output optical locations using a decollimating lens separate from the collimating lens and the reflector after the changing the angle step.

30. A method for switching an input optical signal to one of a plurality of output optical locations, the method comprising:

collimating the input optical signal into a collimated beam;

changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount by,

first reflecting the collimated beam with a reflector having a plurality of positions, each position changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount, and

second reflecting the collimated beam with a return reflector after the first reflecting step to direct the collimated beam to the reflector; and

decollimating and focusing the collimated beam to one of the output optical locations after the changing the angle step.

31. A method for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical locations, the method comprising:

collimating each of the input optical signals into a collimated beam using a collimating lens;

changing the angle of each collimated beam by a selected amount with a reflector having a plurality of positions with each position changing the angle of the collimated beams by a selected amount to direct each collimated beam to a selected one of the output optical locations; and

decollimating and focusing each collimated beam to the selected one of the output optical locations using a decollimating lens separate from the collimating lens and the reflector after the changing the angle step.

32. A method for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical locations, the method comprising:

collimating each of the input optical signals into a collimated beam;

changing the angle of each collimated beam by,

first reflecting each collimated beam with a reflector having a plurality of positions, each position changing the angle of each collimated beam by a selected amount, and

second reflecting each collimated beam with a return reflector after the first reflecting step to direct each collimated beam to the reflector; and

decollimating and focusing each collimated beam to one of the output optical locations after the changing the angle step.

33. A system for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical signals, the system comprising;

a switch array comprising a plurality of switches, each switch comprising;

an optical input and a plurality of optical outputs;

a collimating lens for collimating an optical signal from an input into a collimated beam; and

a reflector for reflecting the collimated beam and having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount in order to direct the collimated beam to a different one of the switch'"'"'s outputs, each position corresponding to one of the switch'"'"'s outputs; and

a decollimating lens separate from the collimating lens and the reflector for decollimating and focusing the collimated beam to one of the switch'"'"'s outputs; and

a controller for controlling the switching of optical signals within each switch in the switch array so that each input optical signal is directed to a desired output optical signal.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the switch array is organized into first and second switch stages.

35. A system for switching a plurality of input optical signals to a plurality of output optical signals, the system comprising;

a switch array comprising a plurality of switches, each switch comprising;

an optical input and a plurality of optical outputs;

a lens for collimating an optical signal from the input into a collimated beam; and

a reflector for reflecting the collimated beam and having a plurality of positions for changing the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount in order to direct the beam to a different one of the switch'"'"'s outputs, each position corresponding to one of the switch'"'"'s outputs, wherein the reflector further comprises;

a first refractor having a first reflective surface for reflecting the collimated beam by total internal reflection;

a second refractor having a contact surface and a reflective surface;

wherein the second refractor'"'"'s contact surface is operable to frustrate the total internal reflection of the collimated beam by the first refractor'"'"'s first reflective surface when the second refractor is brought into proximal contact with the first refractor and so that the collimated beam enters the second refractor; and

wherein the second refractor'"'"'s reflective surface is operable to reflect the collimated beam and to change the angle of the collimated beam by a selected amount in order to direct the beam to a different one of the switch'"'"'s outputs; and

a controller for controlling the switching of optical signals within each switch in the switch array so that each input optical signal is directed to a desired output optical signal.