Optical switch having MEMS array with reduced optical loss

• US 6,690,849 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rembrandt Communications LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tellium, Inc. (DZS, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dadap, Jr., Jerry I., Bonadeo, Nicolas H., Lee, Chauhan Daniel, Bergman, Keren, Brener, Igal, Peale, David R., Chiang, Kophu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJAS, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US09/754,260
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16-20, 385/25, 385/31, 359/223, 359/224
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/352 the reflective optical element having a shaped reflective surface, e.g. a reflective element comprising several reflective surfaces or facets that function together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/003 using switches based on microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0039 Electrical control

Abstract

An optical switch includes a plurality of first optical fibers, a plurality of second optical fibers, a first MEMS array, and a second MEMS array. The first MEMS array is optically coupled with the first optical fibers to receive optical signals from the first optical fibers and to direct the optical signals, wherein the first MEMS array defines a first array incidence angle between a normal direction to the first MEMS array and a direction of the received optical signals. The second MEMS array is optically coupled with the first MEMS array to receive the directed optical signals and to re-direct the directed optical signals with the second optical fibers wherein the second MEMS array defines a second array incidence angle between a normal direction to second MEMS array and a direction of the re-directed optical signals. The configuration of the components is provided to provide reduced optical losses.

Claims

1. An optical switch comprising:

a plurality of first optical fibers;

a plurality of second optical fibers;

a first MEMS array optical coupled with the first optical fibers to receive optical signals from the first optical fibers and to direct the optical signals, the first MEMS array defining a first array incidence angle between a normal direction to the first MEMS array and a direction of the received optical signals;

a second MEMS array optical coupled with the first MEMS array to receive the directed optical signals and to re-direct the directed optical signals for insertion into the second optical fibers, the second MEMS array defining a second array incidence angle between a normal direction to second MEMS array and a direction of the re-directed optical signals;

wherein the first MEMS array include a plurality of rows of MEMS cells and the MEMS cells in adjacent rows are offset by approximately one half cell.

2. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array incidence angles are each defined between 15 and 25 degrees.

3. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array incidence angles.are each defined between 20 and 25 degrees.

4. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second array incidence angles are selected in conjunction with optical path length to reduce optical loss.

5. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the optical path between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is substantially a plane.

6. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first optical fibers, the second optical fibers, the first MEMS array, and the second MEMS array are non-coplanar and define a twisted optical path.

7. An optical switch comprising:

a plurality of first optical fibers;

a plurality of second optical fibers;

a substantially rectangular first MEMS array optically coupled with the first optical fibers to receive optical signals from the first optical fibers and to direct the optical signals, the first MEMS array defining a first array incidence angle between a normal direction to the first MEMS array and a direction of the received optical signals;

a second MEMS array optically coupled with the first MEMS array to receive directed optical signals and to re-direct the directed optical signals for insertion into the second optical fibers, the second MEMS array defining a second array incidence angle between a normal direction to second MEMS array and a direction of the re-directed optical signals,

wherein the first and second array incidence angles are each defined between 10 and 30 degrees and the rectangular first MEMS array is defined by a first number of MEMS cells in a first direction and a second number of MEMS cells in a second direction, a ratio of the first number to the second number being between 1.25 and 1.45.

8. The optical switch according to claim 7, wherein the first and second array incidence angles are each defined between 15 and 25 degrees.

9. The optical switch according to claim 7, wherein the first and second array incidence angles are each defined between 20 and 25 degrees.

10. The optical switch according to claim 7, wherein the first and second array incidence angles are selected in conjunction with optical path length to reduce optical loss.

11. The optical switch according to claim 7, wherein the optical path between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is substantially a plane.

12. The optical switch according to claim 7, wherein the first optical fibers, the second optical fibers, the first MEMS array, and the second MEMS array are non-coplanar and define a twisted optical path.