Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch
First Claim
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1. A micromirror optical switch, comprising:
- a plurality of micromirrors;
at least one of said mirrors suspended from a support structure by a plurality of flexible couplings configured for allowing said at least one of said mirrors to tilt;
said optical switch configured for separating at least one wavelength component in an optical beam from at least one other wavelength component of said optical beam;
said optical switch configured for independently switching said at least one wavelength component from at least one input port to at least one output port.
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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.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A micromirror optical switch, comprising:
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a plurality of micromirrors;
at least one of said mirrors suspended from a support structure by a plurality of flexible couplings configured for allowing said at least one of said mirrors to tilt;
said optical switch configured for separating at least one wavelength component in an optical beam from at least one other wavelength component of said optical beam;
said optical switch configured for independently switching said at least one wavelength component from at least one input port to at least one output port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A micromirror optical switch, comprising:
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a plurality of micromirrors;
at least one of said mirrors having first and second flexible couplings;
first and second support structures;
a first flexible coupling extending between said first support structure and said at least one of said mirrors; and
a second flexible coupling extending between said second support structure and said at least one of said mirrors;
said optical switch configured for separating at least one wavelength component in an optical beam from at least one other wavelength component of said optical beam;
said optical switch configured for independently switching said at least one wavelength component from at least one input port to at least one output port. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optical switching array, comprising:
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a plurality of micromirrors suspended from a support structure by a plurality of corresponding flexible couplings configured for allowing said mirrors to tilt;
said optical switching array configured for separating at least one wavelength component in an optical beam from at least one other wavelength component of said optical beam;
said optical switching array configured for independently switching said at least one wavelength component from at least one input port to at least one output port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical switching array, comprising:
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a plurality of micromirrors;
each said micromirrors having a first support structure and a second support structure;
each said micromirror suspended by a flexible coupling extending between said mirror and said first support structure and suspended by a flexible coupling extending between said second support structure and said mirror;
said optical switching array configured for separating at least one wavelength component in an optical beam from at least one other wavelength component of said optical beam;
said optical switching configured for independently switching said at least one wavelength component from at least one input port to at least one output port. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification