Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch

• US 6,097,859 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Solgaard, Olav, Bhattarai, Amal R., Heritage, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US09/022,591
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16-24
• US Class Current: 385/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/35 having switching means by changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3516 the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3518 the reflective optical element being an intrinsic part of a MEMS device, i.e. fabricated together with the MEMS device MEMS devices in general B81B; manufacture of MEM devices in general B81C; micromechanical devices controlling the direction of light G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3534 the optical element being diffractive, i.e. a grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3542 Non-blocking switch, e.g. with multiple potential paths between multiple inputs and outputs, the establishment of one switching path not preventing the establishment of further switching paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3566 involving bending a beam, e.g. with cantilever
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3584 constructional details of an associated actuator having a MEMS construction, i.e. constructed using semiconductor technology such as etching MEMS per se B81B, B81C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3592 Means for removing polarization dependence of the switching means, i.e. polarization insensitive switching light guides coupling with polarization selective and adjusting means G02B6/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 Testing; Monitoring

Abstract

A cross-connect switch for fiber-optic communication networks employing a wavelength dispersive element, such as a grating, and a stack of regular (non-wavelength selective) cross bar switches using two-dimensional arrays of micromachined, electrically actuated, individually-tiltable, controlled deflection micro-mirrors for providing multiport switching capability for a plurality of wavelengths. Using a one-dimensional micromirror array, a fiber-optic based MEMS switched spectrometer that does not require mechanical motion of bulk components or large diode arrays can be constructed with readout capability for WDM network diagnosis or for general purpose spectroscopic applications.

Claims

1. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

(a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers;

(b) a wavelength dispersive element;

(c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

(d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors; and

(e) a plurality of optical elements for positioning optical beams reflected from said array of mirrors onto said output fibers.

2. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.

3. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said wavelength dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.

4. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) a second wavelength dispersive element;

(g) said plurality optical elements associated with said second wavelength dispersive element;

(h) wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of optical elements position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.

5. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.

6. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

(a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers;

(b) a wavelength dispersive element; and

(c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

(d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors.

7. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.

8. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, wherein said wavelength dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.

9. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

(e) a second wavelength dispersive element; and

(f) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element;

(g) wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.

10. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.

11. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

(a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers;

(b) a first wavelength dispersive element;

(c) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element;

(d) a second wavelength dispersive element; and

(e) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element;

(f) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.

12. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 11, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.

13. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.

14. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

(a) a plurality of input optic fibers;

(b) a plurality of output optic fibers;

(c) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fibers onto said output optic fibers;

(d) a first wavelength dispersive element;

(e) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element;

(f) a second wavelength dispersive element; and

(g) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element;

(h) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.

15. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 14, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.

16. A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.

17. A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising:

(a) a fiber opt ic input path;

(b) a fiber optic output path;

(c) a detector;

(d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said fiber optic input path to said fiber optic output path or said detector;

(e) a wavelength dispersive element; and

(f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

(g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said fiber optic input path onto said array of mirrors.

18. A fiber optic spectrometer as recited in claim 17, wherein said fiber optic input path and said fiber optic output path share a single optic fiber.

19. A fiber optic spectrometer as recited in claim 17, wherein said fiber optic input path and said fiber optic output path are carried by separate optic fibers.

20. A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising:

(a) an input optic fiber;

(b) an output optic fiber;

(c) a detector;

(d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fiber onto said output optic fiber or said detector;

(e) a wavelength dispersive element; and

(f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

(g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said input optic fiber onto said array of mirrors.