Fiber optic cross connect with folding of light beams

• US 6,556,740 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nanogear Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nanogear Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagelin, Paul Merritt, Bhattarai, Amal Ranjan
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/549,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16, 385/17, 385/18, 385/25
• 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 6/356 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 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3588 of the processed beams, i.e. controlling during switching of orientation, alignment, or beam propagation properties such as intensity, size or shape

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved fiber optic cross connect (OXC) package which reduces the size of the device. The OXC includes a chip, the chip including a plurality of input micromirrors and a plurality of output micromirrors; and a reflector optically coupled to the plurality of input micromirrors and the plurality of output micromirrors. The OXC package in accordance with the present invention folds the light beam during scanning. In the preferred embodiment, the OXC package comprises input and output micromirrors on a single chip. A reflector is placed above both the input and output micromirrors for folding the light beam as it travels between an input micromirror and an output micromirror. In the preferred embodiment, the distance from the input/output micromirror to the reflector is approximately one-half of the Rayleigh Length of the light beam. With the folding of the light beam in this manner, the input and output micromirrors may be placed in close proximity to each other, resulting in a smaller device.

Claims

1. A fiber optic cross connect (OXC) comprising:

a chip, comprising;

a plurality of input micromirrors, and

a plurality of output micromirrors;

a reflector optically coupled to the plurality of input micromirrors and the plurality of output micromirrors; and

a detector array optically coupled to the reflector at a side opposite to the plurality of input micromirrors and the plurality of output micromirrors.

2. The OXC of claim 1, wherein the chip further comprises:

integrated circuits; and

wires.

3. The OXC of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises:

an anti-reflective coating which renders the reflector partially reflective.

4. The OXC of claim 1, wherein a distance between the reflector and the detector array is approximately equal to a distance between the reflector and the plurality of input and output micromirrors.

5. The OXC of claim 1, further comprising:

an input fiber array;

an output fiber array;

an input lens array optically coupled to the input fiber array and the plurality of input micromirrors; and

an output lens array optically coupled to the output fiber array and the plurality of output micromirrors.

6. The OXC of claim 5, wherein the input and output lens arrays each comprise a plurality of collimators.

7. A fiber optic cross connect (OXC) comprising:

a chip, comprising;

a plurality of input micromirrors, and

a plurality of output micromirrors;

a reflector optically coupled to the plurality of input micromirrors and the plurality of output micromirrors;

a detector array optically coupled to the reflector at a side opposite to the plurality of input micromirrors and the plurality of output micromirrors;

an input fiber array;

an output fiber array;

an input lens array optically coupled to the input fiber array and the plurality of input micromirrors; and

an output lens array optically coupled to the output fiber array and the plurality of output micromirrors.