Optical switching
First Claim
1. An optical switch comprising:
- a plurality of inputs, each arranged to receive a respective input optical signal at one of a plurality of wavelengths and having a respective planar wavefront;
converter arranged to receive each input optical signal and arranged to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum;
optical multiplexer arranged to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the converter and arranged to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and
optical demultiplexer comprising a plurality of outputs, the optical demultiplexer arranged to;
receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal;
demultiplex the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta;
reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and
deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion;
wherein the optical demultiplexer further comprises;
an optical splitter arranged to receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal and arranged to split it into a plurality of replica signals; and
a plurality of orbital angular momentum demodulators each coupled to a respective output and arranged to receive a respective one of the replica orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signals and each arranged to reconvert optical signals having a respective preselected one of the helical wavefronts into a wavelength multiplexed optical signal having a respective planar wavefront and to deliver the reconverted wavelength multiplexed optical signal to its output.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switch (10) comprising: inputs (12) to receive input optical signals at respective wavelengths and having planar wavefronts; conversion apparatus (14) to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective helical wavefront, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum, OAM; optical multiplexing apparatus (16) to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the conversion apparatus and to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an OAM multiplexed optical signal; and optical demultiplexing apparatus (18) comprising a plurality of outputs (20), the optical demultiplexing apparatus arranged to: receive the OAM multiplexed optical signal; demultiplex the OAM multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different OAM; reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective OAM it had before reconversion.
7 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An optical switch comprising:
-
a plurality of inputs, each arranged to receive a respective input optical signal at one of a plurality of wavelengths and having a respective planar wavefront; converter arranged to receive each input optical signal and arranged to convert each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum; optical multiplexer arranged to receive each helical wavefront optical signal from the converter and arranged to multiplex the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and optical demultiplexer comprising a plurality of outputs, the optical demultiplexer arranged to;
receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal;
demultiplex the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta;reconvert each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; and
deliver each planar wavefront wavelength multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the outputs according to the respective orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion;wherein the optical demultiplexer further comprises; an optical splitter arranged to receive the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal and arranged to split it into a plurality of replica signals; and a plurality of orbital angular momentum demodulators each coupled to a respective output and arranged to receive a respective one of the replica orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signals and each arranged to reconvert optical signals having a respective preselected one of the helical wavefronts into a wavelength multiplexed optical signal having a respective planar wavefront and to deliver the reconverted wavelength multiplexed optical signal to its output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11)
-
-
4. A method of switching optical signals, the method comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of input optical signals, each having one of a plurality of wavelengths and each having a respective planar wavefront; converting each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum; multiplexing the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and demultiplexing the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta and reconverting each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; wherein demultiplexing the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal comprises; splitting the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of replica signals; and reconverting, at a plurality of orbital angular momentum demodulators, optical signals having a respective preselected one of the helical wavefronts into a wavelength multiplexed optical signal having a respective planar wavefront; and delivering the reconverted wavelength multiplexed optical signal to its output. - View Dependent Claims (5, 12)
-
-
9. Method of routing data cells across an optical interconnection network from a respective electrical input port of a respective transmitter module to a respective one of a plurality of electrical output ports of a plurality of receiver modules, the method comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of input electrical signals each carrying a data cell to be routed; assigning one of a plurality of orbital angular momenta and one of a plurality of wavelengths to each input electrical signal, each assigned orbital angular momentum indicating a destination one of the receiver modules and each assigned wavelength indicating a destination one of the output ports of the destination receiver module; converting each input electrical signal into an input optical signal at the respective assigned wavelength, each input optical signal having a respective planar wavefront; converting each input optical signal into a respective optical signal having a respective one of a plurality of helical wavefronts, each helical wavefront having a different orbital angular momentum; multiplexing the helical wavefront optical signals into an orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal; and demultiplexing the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of wavelength multiplexed optical signals each having a different one of the orbital angular momenta and reconverting each wavelength multiplexed optical signal from its helical wavefront into a respective planar wavefront; wherein demultiplexing the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal comprises; splitting the orbital angular momentum multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of replica signals; and reconverting, at a plurality of orbital angular momentum demodulators, optical signals having a respective preselected one of the helical wavefronts into a wavelength multiplexed optical signal having a respective planar wavefront; delivering each planar wavefront wavelength division multiplexed optical signal to a respective one of the receiver modules according to the orbital angular momentum it had before reconversion; demultiplexing each wavelength division multiplexed optical signal into a plurality of output optical signals each at one of the plurality of wavelengths and converting each output optical signal into a corresponding output electrical signal; and delivering each output electrical signal to a respective one of the electrical output ports of the respective receiver module, according to its preconversion optical wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (10, 13)
-
Specification