Free-space micromachined optical switches with submillisecond switching time for large-scale optical crossconnects

Author

Lin, Lih Y. ; Goldstein, E.L. ; Tkach, R.W.

Author_Institution

AT&T Labs., Red Bank, NJ, USA

Volume

10

Issue

4

fYear

1998

fDate

4/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

525

Lastpage

527

Abstract

Optical crossconnects with large port counts are fast becoming critical components for high-capacity optical transport networks. The free-space micromachined optical switches (FS-MOS) demonstrated in this letter represent a means of filling this network need by combining the advantages of free-space interconnection with the virtues of integrated optics. Featuring free-rotating hinged micromirrors, the switch overcomes the common drawback of mechanical-type switches, namely long switching time. Measurements have revealed switching times less than 700 μs, crosstalk less than -60 dB, extinction ratio greater than 60 dB, negligible polarization-dependent loss, and excellent bit-error-rate (BER) performance.

Keywords

electro-optical switches; integrated optics; light polarisation; micromachining; optical crosstalk; optical interconnections; 700 mus; bit-error-rate performance; crosstalk; extinction ratio; free-rotating hinged micromirrors; free-space interconnection; free-space micromachined optical switches; high-capacity optical transport networks; integrated optics; large-scale optical crossconnects; long switching time; mechanical-type switches; optical crossconnects; polarization-dependent loss; submillisecond switching time; Extinction ratio; Filling; Integrated optics; Loss measurement; Micromirrors; Optical crosstalk; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical interconnections; Optical switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.662582

Filename

662582