Symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus and method therefor
First Claim
1. A symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus, comprising:
- a first input and a second input different from the first input;
a first output and a second output different from the first output;
a first light beam traveling from the first input to the first output;
a second light beam traveling from the second input to the second output;
the first and second light beams crisscrossing each other at an intersection, anda reflecting element disposed at the intersection of the first and second light beams, the reflecting element reflecting the first and the second light beams to redirect the first light beam to the second output and the second light beam to the first output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus includes a plurality of optical switch devices with each comprising a first pair of fiber optic ports, a second pair of fiber optic ports and a reflective element. The first pair of fiber optic ports are disposed apart from one another and aligned coextensively along a first optical path. One of the first pair of fiber optic ports emits a first light beam that travels along the first optical path in free space while the remaining one of the first pair of fiber optic ports receives the first light beam. The second pair of fiber optic ports are disposed apart from one another and aligned coextensively along a second optical path. A first one of the second pair of fiber optic ports emits a second light beam that travels along the second optical path in free space while a remaining one of the second pair of fiber optic ports receives the second light beam. The first optical path and the second optical path crisscross each other at an intersection. The reflective element has a first and an opposite second reflective surface and moves between a non-reflective state and a reflective state. In the non-reflective state, the reflective element is disposed away from the first and second optical paths. In the reflective state, the reflective element is interposed into the first and second optical paths at the intersection to reflect the first light beam to a light receiving one of the second pair of fiber optic ports while reflecting the second light beam to the light receiving one of the first pair of fiber optic ports.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus, comprising:
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a first input and a second input different from the first input; a first output and a second output different from the first output; a first light beam traveling from the first input to the first output; a second light beam traveling from the second input to the second output;
the first and second light beams crisscrossing each other at an intersection, anda reflecting element disposed at the intersection of the first and second light beams, the reflecting element reflecting the first and the second light beams to redirect the first light beam to the second output and the second light beam to the first output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect apparatus for redirecting a selected two of at least three light beams traveling in free space along respective optical paths, the at least three light beams being oriented so that the at least three light beams crisscross to form a plurality of light beam intersections with only two of the light beams crisscrossing at one intersection at a time;
- the symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect comprising;
a plurality of reflective elements for redirecting at least a first one of the light beams from a first reflective surface of a reflective element while redirecting at least a second one of the light beams from a second reflective surface of the reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- the symmetrical optical matrix crossconnect comprising;
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15. A method for symmetrically crossconnecting a first light beam traveling in free space from a first input to a first output and a second light beam traveling in free space from a second input different from a first input to a second output different from the first output the first and second light beams crisscrossing each other at an intersection, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a reflective element at the intersection of the first and second light beams; directing the first and second light beams traveling from the respective first and second inputs to the reflecting element; and reflecting the first beams to redirect the first light beam to the second output and the second light beam to the first output. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for symmetrically crossconnecting a symmetrical optical matrix for redirecting a selected two of at least three light beams traveling in free space along respective optical paths, the at least three light beams being oriented so that the at least three light beams crisscross to form a plurality of light beam intersections with only two of the light beams crisscrossing at one intersection at a time, the method comprising:
redirecting at least a first one of the light beams from a first reflective surface of a reflective element while redirecting at least a second one of the light beams from a second reflective surface of the reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (19)
Specification