Systems and methods for optical switching to colorless ports and colored ports

• US 7,212,704 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumentum Operations, LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Ducellier, Thomas, Hnatiw, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak; Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, TINA MEI SENG
• Application Number:
  US11/247,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 385/16
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12011 characterised by the arrayed waveguides, e.g. comprising a filled groove in the array section
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12019 characterised by the optical interconnection to or from the AWG devices, e.g. integration or coupling with lasers or photodiodes coupling integrated waveguide to fibre G02B6/30, to optoelectronic element G02B6/42; monolithic integration of integrated waveguides with other optical elements G02B6/12004
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12021 Comprising cascaded AWG devices; AWG multipass configuration; Plural AWG devices integrated on a single chip
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12026 characterised by means for reducing the temperature dependence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12033 characterised by means for configuring the device, e.g. moveable element for wavelength tuning switching G02B6/35; thermo-optic devices G02F1/0147
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29307 components assembled in or forming a solid transparent unitary block, e.g. for facilitating component alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2931 Diffractive element operating in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29313 characterised by means for controlling the position or direction of light incident to or leaving the diffractive element, e.g. for varying the wavelength response switching G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29373 utilising a bulk dispersive element, e.g. prism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3558 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• 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: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0022 using fibre gratings
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0026 using free space propagation (e.g. lenses, mirrors)

Abstract

A wavelength selective switch is provided with a multiplexer such that both colourless (wavelength non-specific) and coloured (wavelength specific) ports are available. A waveguide device is employed with dispersive elements having different characteristics to realize the colourless and coloured ports within one waveguide device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input port for launching an input signal including a plurality of wavelength channels;

an input dispersive element for demultiplexing the input signal into wavelength channels;

at least one colourless output port, each colourless output port for outputting a respective multiplexed output signal containing a combination of all wavelength channels switched to that colourless output port;

at least one output dispersive element, each outgoing dispersive element for multiplexing the wavelength channels switched to a respective colourless output port into a respective multiplexed output signal;

a plurality of coloured output ports, each for outputting only a respective predetermined demultiplexed wavelength channel switched to that coloured output port;

an optical element associated with the plurality of coloured output ports;

a wavelength selective arrangement adapted to selectively switch each of the plurality of wavelength channels of the input signal to a respective one of;

a) the at least one output dispersive element for multiplexing the selected wavelengths, and directing the multiplexed output signal to a selected colourless output port;

b) the optical element, which then routes the demultiplexed wavelength to the coloured output port of the plurality of coloured output ports that outputs that wavelength.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a secondary routing lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one colourless output port comprises a plurality of colourless output ports.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input and output dispersive elements are waveguide dispersive elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input dispersive element has substantially similar dispersion characteristics to each of the output dispersive elements, and wherein the optical element comprises a second output dispersive element having a different dispersive characteristic from the input dispersive element, such that a net dispersion exists after light is dispersed by the input dispersive element and the second output dispersive element.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the input and output dispersive elements is a waveguide dispersive element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the wavelength selective arrangement comprises an array of switching elements switchable in two dimensions;

wherein the input port, the colorless output ports, and the waveguide dispersive elements of the input and output dispersive elements are in a first plane; and

wherein the coloured output ports are in a second plane;

whereby the switching elements direct light in the first plane between the input port and the colorless output ports, and the switching elements direct light from the first plane to the second plane when directing light between the input port and the coloured output ports.

8. An integrated optical waveguide device comprising:

an input arrayed waveguide having a first dispersion for launching an input signal including a plurality of wavelength channels,

a plurality of first output arrayed waveguides each having substantially the first dispersion;

for each of the plurality of first output arrayed waveguides, a respective first integrated optics coupling element adapted to couple light between the first output arrayed waveguide and a respective colourless output port;

a second output arrayed waveguide having a second dispersion differing from said first dispersion;

for the second output arrayed waveguide, a second integrated optics coupling element adapted to couple light between the second output arrayed waveguide and a plurality of coloured output ports;

a plurality of routing elements for directing the wavelength channels from the input signal dispersed by the input arrayed waveguide to the first or second output arrayed waveguides;

wherein, for each first output arrayed waveguide, the wavelength channels directed thereto are multiplexed and output the respective colorless output port; and

wherein the first dispersion and the second dispersion differ enough such that after passing through the input arrayed waveguide, the second output arrayed waveguide and the second integrated optics coupling element, selected wavelength channels have a physical separation such that each wavelength channel is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of coloured output ports.

9. The waveguide device of claim 8 wherein each first integrated coupling optics comprises a respective substantially non-dispersive waveguide coupled to a slab waveguide.

10. The waveguide device of claim 8 wherein the second integrated coupling optics comprises a plurality of substantially non-dispersive waveguides coupled to a slab waveguide.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an input optical port for receiving an input optical signal including a plurality of wavelength channels;

at least one colourless output optical port;

at least one coloured output optical port;

an incoming dispersive element optically connected to the input optical port for demultiplexing the input optical signal;

at least one outgoing dispersive element optically connected to the at least one colourless output optical port for multiplexing selected wavelength channels;

a bulk optical element having optical power;

a plurality of reflective routing elements;

wherein for each wavelength channel;

the incoming dispersive element and the bulk optical element disperses the wavelength channel towards a respective one of said plurality of routing elements, and the respective one of said plurality of routing elements directs the wavelength channel via the bulk optical element to a selected colourless output port via the respective outgoing dispersive element of the selected colourless output port or to a selected coloured output port, the selected colourless output port or the selected coloured output port being determined by the respective routing element;

whereby wavelength channels routed to a given colourless output port are re-combined into a single multiplexed output signal for output the colourless port, and each wavelength channel routed to a given coloured output port remains demultiplexed and appears at the wavelength specific coloured port.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said at least one colourless output port comprises at least two colourless output ports.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements are transmissive and are between the input and output optical ports and the bulk optical element having power.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a respective outgoing dispersive element for each colourless output port.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a single outgoing dispersive element for the colourless output ports.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements comprises an array of waveguides having a predetermined first optical path length difference spread across the array.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the reflective routing elements comprise an array of switching elements switchable in two dimensions;

wherein the input port, the colorless output ports, and the array of waveguides for the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements are in a first plane; and

wherein the coloured output ports are in a second plane;

whereby the switching elements direct light in the first plane between the input port and the colorless output ports, and the switching elements direct light from the first plane to the second plane when directing light between the input port and the coloured output ports.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one colored output port includes a coloured dispersive element comprising an array of waveguides having a predetermined second optical path length difference spread across the array associated with the coloured output ports, the first and second optical path length difference being different.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the incoming, outgoing and coloured dispersive elements are collectively integrated onto a single waveguide device.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising micro-optics coupling elements adapted to couple light from each port to/from the respective dispersive element.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising integrated optical coupling elements adapted to couple light from each port to/from the respective dispersive element.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements comprises a transmissive diffraction grating.

23. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements and the routing elements are placed substantially at focal planes of the bulk optical element having optical power.

24. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements are integrated on a waveguide substrate, and the bulk optical element having optical power comprises a main cylindrical lens element adapted to focus light in a first plane in the plane of the waveguide substrate, the apparatus further comprising a transverse cylindrical lens adapted to substantially collimate light in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the main cylindrical lens has a focal length such that the outgoing dispersive elements are in a focal plane of the lens on a first side of the lens, and the routing elements are in a focal plane of the lens on a second side of the lens.

26. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements are selected from a group comprising:

echelle grating, echellon gratings, prisms, and arrayed waveguides.

27. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each routing element is a tiltable micro-mirror.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

an athermal mount for the routing elements adapted to shift the routing elements to compensate for changes in dispersive characteristics of the incoming dispersive element as a function of temperature.

29. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the incoming and outgoing dispersive elements comprise non-transmissive diffraction gratings, and wherein a secondary lens is used to route light to the coloured output ports.

30. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each routing element is one of a liquid crystal beam steering element, an acousto-optic beam deflector, part of a solid state phase array, a controllable hologram, and a periodically polled Lithium Niobate beam deflector.

31. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a secondary lens associated with each set of coloured output ports that routes each selected wavelength channel to one of the wavelength specific coloured output ports.

32. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a coloured dispersive element associated with each set of coloured output ports that has a different dispersion characteristic from the incoming dispersive element, such that a net dispersion remains after being dispersed by a combination of the incoming dispersive element and the coloured dispersive element.

33. An arrangement comprising:

at least one input port, at least one input dispersive element associated with the at least one input port;

at least one colourless output port, at least one output dispersive element being associated with the at least one colourless output port;

at least one set of coloured output ports;

at least one bulk optical element;

for each of a set of wavelength channels, a respective switching element adapted to redirect the wavelength channel;

wherein the dispersive elements, the at least one bulk optical element and the switching elements are arranged to;

demultiplex wavelength channels received at the at least one input port;

redirect each wavelength channel towards one of a selected colourless output port or a selected set of coloured output ports;

for each colourless output port, remultiplex any wavelength channels routed towards the colourless output port;

for each set of coloured output ports, output wavelength channels individually without remultiplexing.

34. A method comprising:

using an input dispersive element, demultiplexing a multi-wavelength input signal into a plurality of wavelength channels;

using a combination of switching elements and at least one bulk optical element, routing each of the plurality of wavelength channels to;

a selected one of a plurality of colourless output ports via a dispersive element associated with the selected colourless output port;

or a selected set of at least one set of coloured output ports;

wherein for each colourless output port, any wavelengths routed to the colourless output port are combined to produce a colourless output;

wherein for each set of coloured output ports, any wavelengths routed to the set of coloured output ports are output on wavelength channel specific output ports of the set.