Large scale optical switch using asymmetric 1×2 elements

• US 9,778,421 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nistica, Inc. (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wagener, Jefferson L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAHLL, JERRY T
• Application Number:
  US14/883,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20170108651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12145 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/032 with non solid core or cladding G02B6/02295 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/283 couplers being tunable or adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3504 Rotating, tilting or pivoting the waveguides, or with the waveguides describing a curved path rotary joint G02B6/3628
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3508 Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends
• 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 6/3584 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 6/359 of the position of the moving element itself during switching, i.e. without monitoring the switched beams
• 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: G02B 6/3596 With planar waveguide arrangement, i.e. in a substrate, regardless if actuating mechanism is outside the substrate

Abstract

An optical switching arrangement includes a plurality of input and output waveguides. Each of the input waveguides has a first plurality of 1×2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong. Each of the output waveguides has a second plurality of 1×2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong. Each of the first and second plurality of optical switches is selectively switchable between a through-state and a cross-state. The input and output waveguides are arranged such that optical losses arising for any wavelength of light only depend on a length of segments of the input and output waveguides located between adjacent ones of the 1×2 optical switches. Each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.

Claims

1. An optical switching arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides having a first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides having a second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

each of the optical switches in the first and second plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between first and second states such that in a first state each optical switch allows light propagating in the input or output waveguide with which it is associated to continue propagating therethrough undisturbed without encountering any intervening mode perturbing structures between adjacent ones of the 1×

2 switches and in a second state each optical switch couples light into or out of the input or output waveguide with which it is associated; and

wherein each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the second state.

2. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the 1×

2 switches comprises;

a displaceable optical cross-guide, the 1×

2 switch being in the first state when the optical cross-guide is a first distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated and in a second state when the optical cross-guide is a second distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated;

an actuator for selectively displacing the displaceable optical cross-guide so that its distance from the input or output waveguide with which it is associated is equal to the first or second distance.

3. The optical switching arrangement of claim 2 wherein the actuator is a MEMs-based actuator.

4. The optical switching arrangement of claim 2 wherein the actuator is a digital, two-state actuator.

5. The optical switching arrangement of claim 2 wherein the actuator is latching in the first state.

6. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of optical coupling elements each optically coupling one of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides to one of the second plurality of optical switches associated with one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the second state.

7. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a first planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuit in which the plurality of input waveguides and the first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches are integrated.

8. The optical switching arrangement of claim 7 further comprising a second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuit in which the plurality of output waveguides and the second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches are integrated.

9. The optical switching arrangement of claim 8 wherein the first and second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are stacked on top of one another.

10. The optical switching arrangement of claim 9 wherein the first and second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are hybridly attached to one another.

11. The optical switching arrangement of claim 9 wherein the first and second lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are monolithically integrated with one another.

12. The optical switching arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of vertical couplers each optically coupling one of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides to one of the second plurality of optical switches associated with one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the second state.

13. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the 1×

2 optical switches in the first and second pluralities of 1×

2 optical switches exhibit lower loss in the first state than in the second state.

14. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a controller for selectively switching light from any one of the input waveguides to any one of the output waveguides by causing one of the first plurality of optical switches and one of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the second state and causing all remaining optical switches in the first and second pluralities of optical switches to be placed in the first state.

15. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a controller for (i) selectively switching light from a first selected one of the input waveguides to a first selected one of the output waveguides by causing one of the first plurality of optical switches and one of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the second state and (ii) simultaneously switching light from a second selected one of the input waveguides to a second selected one of the output waveguides by causing another of the first plurality of optical switches and another of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the second state while (iii) causing all remaining optical switches in the first and second pluralities of optical switches to be placed in the first state.

16. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 wherein the input and output waveguides are air clad waveguides.

17. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 wherein the input and output waveguides are single mode waveguides.

18. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input and output waveguides support light traveling in a single polarization state.

19. The optical switching arrangement of claim 18 further comprising:

a second plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides in the second plurality having a third plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a second plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides in the second plurality having a fourth plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

each of the optical switches in the third and fourth plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between first and second states such that in a first state each optical switch allows light propagating in the input or output waveguide with which it is associated to continue propagating therethrough undisturbed without encountering any intervening mode perturbing structures between adjacent ones of the 1×

2 switches and in a second state of the optical switches couples light into or out of the input or output waveguide with which it is associated;

wherein each of the third plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides in the second plurality is optically coupled to one of the fourth plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides in the second plurality when both optical switches in the third and fourth pluralities are in the second state; and

a plurality of polarization splitters each coupling an input port of one of the plurality of input waveguides to an input port of one of the second plurality of input waveguides.

20. The optical switching arrangement of claim 19 further comprising a polarization rotator for rotating the polarization of light in the second plurality of input waveguides into a common polarization state with light in the plurality of input waveguides.

21. The optical switching arrangement of claim 19 further comprising a first planar lightwave circuit in which are integrated the plurality of input waveguides, the first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches, the second plurality of input waveguides and the third plurality of 1×

2 optical switches.

22. The optical switching arrangement of claim 21 wherein the plurality of input waveguides and the second plurality of input waveguides are parallel to one another.

23. The optical switching arrangement of claim 22 wherein the input waveguides in each pair of input waveguides that are coupled by one of the polarization splitters are adjacent to one another.

24. The optical switching arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

a photodetector;

at least one additional 1×

2 optical switch being associated with and extending along at least one of the input waveguides and/or the output waveguides such that light is coupled from the at least one input and/or output waveguide to the photodetector when the additional 1×

2 switch is in the second state.

25. An optical switching arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides having a first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides having a second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong, each of the first and second plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between a through-state and a cross-state, the input and output waveguides being arranged such that light propagating in any and all of the input and output waveguides does not traverse a waveguide crossing;

wherein each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.

26. An optical switching arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides having a first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides having a second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong, each of the first and second plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between a through-state and a cross-state, the input and output waveguides being arranged such that optical losses arising for any wavelength of light only depend on a length of segments of the input and output waveguides located between adjacent ones of the 1×

2 optical switches;

wherein each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.

28. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 wherein each of the 1×

2 switches comprises;

a displaceable optical cross-guide, the 1×

2 switch being in the through state when the optical cross-guide is a first distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated and in the cross-state when the optical cross-guide is a second distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated;

an actuator for selectively displacing the displaceable optical cross-guide so that its distance from the input or output waveguide with which it is associated is equal to the first or second distance.

29. The optical switching arrangement of claim 28 wherein the actuator is a MEMs-based actuator.

30. The optical switching arrangement of claim 28 wherein the actuator is a digital, two-state actuator.

31. The optical switching arrangement of claim 28 wherein the actuator is latching in the through-state.

32. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 further comprising a plurality of optical coupling elements each optically coupling one of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides to one of the second plurality of optical switches associated with one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.

33. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 further comprising a first planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuit in which the plurality of input waveguides and the first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches are integrated.

34. The optical switching arrangement of claim 33 further comprising a second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuit in which the plurality of output waveguides and the second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches are integrated.

35. The optical switching arrangement of claim 34 wherein the first and second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are stacked on top of one another.

36. The optical switching arrangement of claim 35 wherein the first and second planar lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are hybridly attached to one another.

37. The optical switching arrangement of claim 35 wherein the first and second lightwave or photonic integrated circuits are monolithically integrated with one another.

38. The optical switching arrangement of claim 35 further comprising a plurality of vertical couplers each optically coupling one of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides to one of the second plurality of optical switches associated with one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.

39. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 wherein each of the 1×

2 optical switches in the first and second pluralities of 1×

2 optical switches exhibit lower loss in the through-state than in the cross-state.

40. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 further comprising a controller for selectively switching light from any one of the input waveguides to any one of the output waveguides by causing one of the first plurality of optical switches and one of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the cross-state and causing all remaining optical switches in the first and second pluralities of optical switches to be placed in the through-state.

41. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 further comprising a controller for (i) selectively switching light from a first selected one of the input waveguides to a first selected one of the output waveguides by causing one of the first plurality of optical switches and one of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the cross-state and (ii) simultaneously switching light from a second selected one of the input waveguides to a second selected one of the output waveguides by causing another of the first plurality of optical switches and another of the second plurality of optical switches to be placed in the cross-state while (iii) causing all remaining optical switches in the first and second pluralities of optical switches to be placed in the through-state.

42. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 wherein the input and output waveguides are air clad waveguides.

43. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 wherein the input and output waveguides are single mode waveguides.

44. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 wherein the plurality of input and output waveguides support light traveling in a single polarization state.

45. The optical switching arrangement of claim 44 further comprising:

a second plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides in the second plurality having a third plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a second plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides in the second plurality having a fourth plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

each of the optical switches in the third and fourth plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between through and cross-states such that in a through state each optical switch allows light propagating in the input or output waveguide with which it is associated to continue propagating therethrough undisturbed without encountering any intervening mode perturbing structures between adjacent ones of the 1×

2 switches and in a cross-state of the optical switches couples light into or out of the input or output waveguide with which it is associated;

wherein each of the third plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides in the second plurality is optically coupled to one of the fourth plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides in the second plurality when both optical switches in the third and fourth pluralities are in the cross-state; and

a plurality of polarization splitters each coupling an input port of one of the plurality of input waveguides to an input port of one of the second plurality of input waveguides.

46. The optical switching arrangement of claim 45 further comprising a polarization rotator for rotating the polarization of light in the second plurality of input waveguides into a common polarization state with light in the plurality of input waveguides.

47. The optical switching arrangement of claim 45 further comprising a first planar lightwave circuit in which are integrated the plurality of input waveguides, the first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches, the second plurality of input waveguides and the third plurality of 1×

2 optical switches.

48. The optical switching arrangement of claim 47 wherein the plurality of input waveguides and the second plurality of input waveguides are parallel to one another.

49. The optical switching arrangement of claim 48 wherein the input waveguides in each pair of input waveguides that are coupled by one of the polarization splitters are adjacent to one another.

50. The optical switching arrangement of claim 26 further comprising:

a photodetector;

at least one additional 1×

2 optical switch being associated with and extending along at least one of the input waveguides and/or the output waveguides such that light is coupled from the at least one input and/or output waveguide to the photodetector when the additional 1×

2 switch is in the cross-state.

27. An optical switching arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of input waveguides, each of the input waveguides having a first plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

a plurality of output waveguides, each of the output waveguides having a second plurality of 1×

2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong;

each of the optical switches in the first and second plurality of optical switches being selectively switchable between first and second states such that in a first state each optical switch allows light propagating in the input or output waveguide with which it is associated to continue propagating therethrough and in a second state each optical switch couples light into or out of the input or output waveguide with which it is associated, the input and output waveguides being arranged such that optical losses arising for any wavelength of light only depend on a length of segments of the input and output waveguides located between adjacent ones of the 1×

2 optical switches; and

wherein each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the second state, each of the 1×

2 switches including (i) a displaceable optical cross-guide, the 1×

2 switch being in the first state when the optical cross-guide is a first distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated and in a second state when the optical cross-guide is a second distance from the input or output waveguide with which each of the 1×

2 switches is respectively associated and (ii) an actuator for selectively displacing the displaceable optical cross-guide so that its distance from the input or output waveguide with which it is associated is equal to the first or second distance.