Wavelength-selective 1×N2 switches with two-dimensional input/output fiber arrays
First Claim
1. An optical switch, comprising:
- a two-dimensional array of optical ports;
an input port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports configured for communicating an optical beam containing multiple wavelengths;
a plurality of output ports within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; and
a first one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors; and
a second one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors configured with a scanning direction that is orthogonal to said first one-dimensional array;
wherein said first and second one-dimensional arrays of actuated mirrors are configured for switching the optical beam from said input port to an output port in said two-dimensional array of optical ports.
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Abstract
A 1×N2 wavelength selective switch (WSS) configuration in which switch elements are configured in a way that enables the input or output fibers to be arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array. By employing 2D arrays of input/output channels, the channel count is increased from N to N2 for wavelength selective switches. In one embodiment, in which the components are arranged as a 2-f imaging system, a one-dimensional (1D) array of mirrors is configured such that each mirror has a dual scanning axis (i.e., each mirror can be scanned in X and Y directions). In another embodiment, in which the components are arranged as a 4-f imaging system, two 1D arrays of mirrors are configured with orthogonal scanning directions. In both embodiments, the number of ports is increased from N to N2.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An optical switch, comprising:
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a two-dimensional array of optical ports; an input port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports configured for communicating an optical beam containing multiple wavelengths; a plurality of output ports within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; and a first one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors; and a second one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors configured with a scanning direction that is orthogonal to said first one-dimensional array; wherein said first and second one-dimensional arrays of actuated mirrors are configured for switching the optical beam from said input port to an output port in said two-dimensional array of optical ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical switch, comprising:
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a two-dimensional array of optical ports; an input port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports configured for communicating an optical beam containing multiple wavelengths; a plurality of output ports within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; a first one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors; a second one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors configured having a scanning direction orthogonal to said first one-dimensional array; and means for positioning said optical beam onto said array of actuated mirrors; wherein said first and second one-dimensional arrays of actuated mirrors are configured for switching the optical beam from said input port to an output port in said two-dimensional array of optical ports. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An optical switch, comprising:
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a two-dimensional array of optical ports; an input port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports configured for communicating an optical beam containing multiple wavelengths; a plurality of output ports within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; a first array of actuated mirrors; a second array of actuated mirrors; means for directing said optical beam onto said first and second array of actuated mirrors; and means for spatially dispersing wavelengths within said optical beam; wherein said first array of mirrors are configured for single-axis rotation about a first axis; wherein said second array of mirrors are configured for single-axis rotation about a second axis that is orthogonal to said first axis; and wherein said arrays of actuated mirrors are configured for switching an optical beam from said input port through said means for positioning and said means for spatially dispersing to steer desired wavelengths within said optical beam to an output port in said two-dimensional array of output ports. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical switch, comprising:
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a two-dimensional array of optical ports, each of said optical ports configured for communicating multiple wavelength channels; an input port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; an output port within said two-dimensional array of optical ports; a first one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors; a second one-dimensional array of single-axis actuated mirrors configured with a scanning direction that is orthogonal to said first one-dimensional array; a first lens; a second lens; wherein said first and second lens are confocal and configured for positioning said optical beam onto said arrays of actuated mirrors; and a wavelength dispersive element configured for spatially dispersing the optical wavelengths within an optical beam; wherein said array of mirrors is configured to switch an optical beam on an input channel to a port in said two-dimensional array of ports. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification