Bridging apparatus and method for an optical crossconnect device
First Claim
1. An optical matrix crossconnect mechanism comprising:
- at least one reflective panel disposed in an array of a plurality of columns and rows, each reflective panel being selectively operative between a reflective state and a non-reflective state; and
a bridging apparatus including at least one light beam splitting device disposed in the array, the at least one light beam splitting device operative in a retracted state wherein no portion of the light beam is reflected and a beam splitting state wherein the light beam is divided into a first light beam portion and a second light beam portion which are directed in different directions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bridging apparatus is used with an optical matrix crossconnect mechanism that has an array of reflective panels that are disposed in a plurality of columns and rows and are selectively operative between reflective states and non-reflective states. The bridging apparatus includes at least one light beam splitting device that is peripherally disposed in the array of reflective panels adjacent to an entry position of a light beam. The at least one light beam splitting device is operative in a retracted state to permit the light beam to enter into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism in an undivided manner. The at least one light beam splitting device is operative in a beam splitting state so that the light beam entering into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism can be divided into a first light beam portion and a second light beam portion which are directed into the optical matrix crossconnect mechanism in different directions.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An optical matrix crossconnect mechanism comprising:
-
at least one reflective panel disposed in an array of a plurality of columns and rows, each reflective panel being selectively operative between a reflective state and a non-reflective state; and a bridging apparatus including at least one light beam splitting device disposed in the array, the at least one light beam splitting device operative in a retracted state wherein no portion of the light beam is reflected and a beam splitting state wherein the light beam is divided into a first light beam portion and a second light beam portion which are directed in different directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An optical matrix crossconnect mechanism comprising:
-
at least one reflective panel disposed in an array of a plurality of columns and rows, each reflective panel being selectively operative between a reflective state and a non-reflective state; and a bridging apparatus including a first series of at least one first light beam splitting device and at least one first bridging reflective panel, the first series arranged in the array, in a selected column or in a selected row, the at least one first light beam splitting device being movable between a retracted state permitting the light beam to remain undivided and a beam splitting state dividing the light beam into a first light beam portion and a second light beam portion directed in different directions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for simultaneously providing two output light signals from a single input light signal inputted into an array comprising at least one reflective panel disposed in a plurality of columns and rows, each reflective panel being selectively operative between a reflective state and a non-reflective state, the method comprising the steps of:
-
splitting the input light signal into a first light signal portion and a second light signal portion; directing the first light signal portion in a first direction and the second light signal portion into a second direction different from the first direction; and receiving the first light signal portion at a first light signal output port and the second light signal portion at a second light signal output port different from the first light signal output port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification