Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch

• US 6,711,320 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Solgaard, Olav, Bhattarai, Amal R., Heritage, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US10/293,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16-24
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/35 having switching means by changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3516 the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3518 the reflective optical element being an intrinsic part of a MEMS device, i.e. fabricated together with the MEMS device MEMS devices in general B81B; manufacture of MEM devices in general B81C; micromechanical devices controlling the direction of light G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3534 the optical element being diffractive, i.e. a grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3542 Non-blocking switch, e.g. with multiple potential paths between multiple inputs and outputs, the establishment of one switching path not preventing the establishment of further switching paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• 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 6/3566 involving bending a beam, e.g. with cantilever
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• 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 6/3584 constructional details of an associated actuator having a MEMS construction, i.e. constructed using semiconductor technology such as etching MEMS per se B81B, B81C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3592 Means for removing polarization dependence of the switching means, i.e. polarization insensitive switching light guides coupling with polarization selective and adjusting means G02B6/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 Testing; Monitoring

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.

Claims

1. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

an input port;

an output port;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors; and

a wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element configured to position an optic beam from said input port onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said input port to said output port or to said detector.

2. A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

3. A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said input and output ports comprise optic fibers.

4. A switch as recited in claim 3, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

5. A switch recited in claim 4, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

6. A switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element.

7. A switch as recited in claim 6, wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens are configured to position said optic beam from said input port onto said array of actuated mirrors.

8. A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

9. A switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.

10. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

an input optic fiber;

an output optic fiber;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors; and

a wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element configured to position an optic beam from said input optic fiber onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said input optic fiber to said output optic fiber or to said detector.

11. A switch as recited in claim 10, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

12. A switch as recited in claim 10, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

13. A switch as recited in claim 12, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

14. A switch as recited in claim 10, further comprising a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element.

15. A switch as recited in claim 14, wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens are configured to position said optic beam from said in put optic fiber onto said array of actuated mirrors.

16. A switch as recited in claim 10, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

17. A switch as recited in claim 10, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.

18. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

a fiber optic input path;

a fiber optic output path;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors; and

a wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element configured to position an optic beam from said fiber optic input path onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said fiber optic input path to said fiber optic output path or to said detector.

19. A switch as recited in claim 18, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

20. A switch as recited in claim 18, wherein said fiber optic input and output paths comprise optic fibers.

21. A switch as recited in claim 20, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

22. A switch as recited in claim 21, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

23. A switch as recited in claim 18, further comprising a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element.

24. A switch as recited in claim 23, wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens are configured to position said optic beam from said fiber optic input path onto said array of actuated mirrors.

25. A switch as recited in claim 18, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

26. A switch as recited in claim 18, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.

27. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

an input port;

an output port;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors;

a wavelength dispersive element; and

a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element and said lens configured to position an optic beam from said input port onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said input port to said output port or to said detector.

28. A switch as recited in claim 27, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

29. A switch as recited in claim 27, wherein said input and output ports comprise optic fibers.

30. A switch as recited in claim 29, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

31. A switch as recited in claim 30, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

32. A switch as recited in claim 27, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

33. A switch as recited in claim 27, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.

34. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

an input optic fiber;

an output optic fiber;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors;

a wavelength dispersive element; and

a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element and said lens configured to position an optic beam from said input optic fiber onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said input optic fiber to said output optic fiber or to said detector.

35. A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

36. A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

37. A switch as recited in claim 36, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

38. A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

39. A switch as recited in claim 34, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.

40. A fiber optic switch, comprising:

a fiber optic input path;

a fiber optic output path;

a detector;

an array of actuated mirrors;

a wavelength dispersive element; and

a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element;

said wavelength dispersive element and said lens configured to position an optic beam from said fiber optic input path onto said array of actuated mirrors;

said array of actuated mirrors configured for performing wavelength switching of said optic beam from said fiber optic input path to said fiber optic output path or to said detector.

41. A switch as recited in claim 40, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of an optic input signal.

42. A switch as recited in claim 41, wherein said fiber optic input and output paths comprise optic fibers.

43. A switch as recited in claim 42, wherein said input optic fiber carries a plurality of wavelength components of an optic input signal.

44. A switch as recited in claim 43, wherein said optic beam comprises a wavelength component of said optic input signal.

45. A switch as recited in claim 40, wherein said detector comprises an array of detector elements.

46. A switch as recited in claim 40, wherein said detector comprises a single detector element.