Fiber optic switch and associated methods

• US 6,418,247 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Presley, Harry Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/657,724
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 385/18, 385/16-24, 385/33-37
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3568 characterised by the actuating force
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Abstract

The fiber optic switch includes a plurality of optical inputs and a plurality of optical outputs carried by a support. The switch also includes a first plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with a respective optical input, and a second plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with a respective optical output. Also, a plurality of reflector drivers directs selected pairs of the first and second plurality of rotatable reflectors to define respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs. The free-space propagating optical beam that is transferred between each input and output is formed by a micro lens producing a substantially collimated beam and therefore minimizing optical performance penalties due to the relative path length differences between various routing paths.

Claims

1. A fiber optic switch comprising:

a support;

a plurality of optical inputs carried by the support;

a plurality of optical outputs carried by the support;

a first plurality of rotatable reflectors, each being associated with a respective optical input;

a second plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with a respective optical output; and

a plurality of reflector drivers for directing pairs of the first and second plurality of rotatable reflectors to define respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs;

the first and second pluralities of rotatable reflectors being rotatable about respective axes being transverse to the respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs.

2. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 wherein each of the optical inputs and outputs comprises a lens and an optical connector.

3. A fiber optic switch according to claim 2 wherein each of the optical inputs and outputs further comprises an optical fiber.

4. A fiber optic switch according to claim 2 wherein the lens comprises a collimating micro-lens.

5. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second plurality of rotatable reflectors comprises a rotatable mirror.

6. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of reflector drivers comprises a motor.

7. A fiber optic switch according to claim 6 wherein the motor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) motor.

8. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the plurality of reflector drivers.

9. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 wherein the optical inputs and outputs are carried by the support in a substantially circular pattern.

10. A fiber optic switch according to claim 9 wherein the support is substantially circular.

11. A fiber optic switch according to claim 1 wherein the support comprises:

a first support portion for supporting the plurality of optical inputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern; and

a second support portion, adjacent the first support portion, for supporting the plurality of optical outputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern.

12. A fiber optic switch comprising:

a plurality of optical inputs;

a plurality of optical outputs;

a support for supporting the plurality of optical inputs and the plurality of optical outputs in a substantially circular pattern;

a plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with one of the respective optical inputs and outputs;

a plurality of reflector drivers for directing pairs of the first and second plurality of rotatable reflectors to define respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs; and

a controller for controlling the plurality of reflector drivers.

13. A fiber optic switch according to claim 12 wherein each of the optical inputs and outputs comprises a lens and an optical connector.

14. A fiber optic switch according to claim 13 wherein each of the optical inputs and outputs further comprises an optical fiber.

15. A fiber optic switch according to claim 13 wherein the lens comprises a collimating micro-lens.

16. A fiber optic switch according to claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of rotatable reflectors comprises a rotatable mirror.

17. A fiber optic switch according to claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of reflector drivers comprises a motor.

18. A fiber optic switch according to claim 17 wherein the motor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) motor.

19. A fiber optic switch according to claim 12 wherein the support comprises:

a first support portion for supporting the plurality of optical inputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern; and

a second support portion, adjacent the first support portion, for supporting the plurality of optical outputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern.

20. A method of routing light signals in a fiber optic communication system including a plurality of optical inputs and a plurality of optical outputs, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of rotatable reflectors each being associated with one of the respective optical inputs and outputs; and

directing pairs of rotatable reflectors towards one another to define respective paths between the optical inputs and optical outputs;

the plurality of rotatable reflectors being rotatable about respective axes being transverse to the respective paths between the optical inputs and the optical outputs.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein directing respective rotatable reflectors comprises rotating the rotatable reflectors with a motor.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the motor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) motor.

23. A method according to claim 20 wherein providing the plurality of rotatable reflectors comprises positioning the plurality of rotatable reflectors in a substantially circular pattern.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein providing the plurality of rotatable reflectors comprises:

positioning the rotatable reflectors associated with the plurality of optical inputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern; and

positioning the rotatable reflectors associated with the plurality of optical outputs in a substantially semi-circular pattern adjacent to the rotatable reflectors associated with the plurality of optical inputs.

25. A method according to claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of optical inputs and outputs comprises a lens, an optical connector, and an optical fiber.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the lens comprises a collimating micro-lens.

27. A method according to claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of rotatable reflectors comprises a rotatable mirror.