Method for cross-connecting optical signals at high speed
First Claim
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1. A method for operating an optical crossbar switch having a plurality of selectable reflective optical switching elements, said method comprising:
- focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element, the first selected reflective optical switching element directing the selected input light beam to a first output;
selecting a second reflective optical switching element; and
, varying a focus of said selected input light beam to focus said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element, the second selected reflective optical element directing the selected input light beam to a second output.
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Abstract
A micro-machined mirror optical crossbar switch directs the light beams of input signal channels to selected output channels by manipulating the focal lengths of adaptive optical elements to ensure that the light beam of any given incoming channel is always focused at the position of the reflective device that is selected to switch that beam. This allows the reflective device to be smaller and switch faster and allows the number of output channels per input channel to be increased.
30 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for operating an optical crossbar switch having a plurality of selectable reflective optical switching elements, said method comprising:
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focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element, the first selected reflective optical switching element directing the selected input light beam to a first output;
selecting a second reflective optical switching element; and
,varying a focus of said selected input light beam to focus said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element, the second selected reflective optical element directing the selected input light beam to a second output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optical crossbar switch for switching input light beams, the switch comprising;
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at least one adaptive optical element having a focal length variable over a range, the adaptive optical element located in a path of a selected input light beam; and
,a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements, said selectable reflective optical elements alternatively selectable and interposable in the path of the selected input light beam to direct the selected input light beam to a corresponding one of a plurality of outputs;
wherein more than one of said selectable reflective optical elements are located within the range over which said adaptive optical element is capable of focusing said selected input light beam. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for directing an optical signal from an input channel to a selected one of a plurality of output channels, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of individually switchable reflective elements located to intercept an optical signal from the input channel, the plurality of reflective elements having a plurality of selectable configurations, each of the configurations directing the optical signal to a corresponding one of the output channels, in each of the configurations the optical signal incident on a selected one of the reflective elements; and
,at least one adjustable focus optical element in an optical path between the input channel and the plurality of reflective elements, the at least one adjustable focus optical element configured to focus the optical signal onto a currently selected one of the reflective elements and, upon a different one of the reflective elements becoming the currently selected one of the reflective elements, to vary a focus of the adjustable focus optical element to focus the optical signal onto the different one of the reflective elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A switch for switching optical signals comprising:
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a plurality of optical input channels and a plurality of optical output channels;
a plurality of individually switchable reflective elements, each of which is switchable between a reflecting state and a non-reflecting state; and
a plurality of adjustable focus optical elements, each of the adjustable focus optical elements in an optical path between a corresponding one of the input optical channels and the plurality of individually switchable reflective elements, each of the adjustable focus optical elements capable of focusing an optical signal from the corresponding one of the input channels onto any one of a plurality of the plurality of individually switchable reflective elements, each of the plurality of the plurality of individually switchable reflective elements located to require a different focus setting of the adjustable focus optical element;
wherein an optical signal may be directed from a selected one of the input optical channels to a selected one of the output optical channels by switching a selected one of the plurality of reflective elements to its reflecting state and adjusting a focus of the at least one adjustable focus optical element corresponding to the selected input optical channel to focus the optical signal onto the selected reflective element.
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24. A method for directing an optical signal from an input channel to a selected one of a plurality of output channels, the method comprising:
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actuating a reflective element to direct an optical signal from the input channel to a selected one of the output channels; and
,operating an adjustable focus optical element to focus the optical signal from the input channel onto the reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for directing an optical signal from a selected one of a plurality of input channels to a selected one of a plurality of output channels comprising:
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actuating a reflective element corresponding to the selected input and output channels; and
,altering a focus of an optical signal from the selected input channel to focus the optical signal onto the actuated reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for redirecting a radiation beam in an optical crossbar switch comprising a plurality of individually selectable reflective optical switching elements, the method comprising:
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focusing a selected radiation beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element;
selecting a second reflective optical switching element; and
,focusing the selected radiation beam on the second reflective optical switching element.
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Specification