Title :
Scalable optical cross-connect switch using micromachined mirrors
Author :
Hagelin, Paul M. ; Krishnamoorthy, Uma ; Heritage, Jonathan P. ; Solgaard, Olav
Author_Institution :
C Speed Corp., Santa Clara, CA, USA
fDate :
7/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
This letter describes a free-space optical fiber cross-connect that uses a pair of micromirror arrays to redirect optical beams from an input-fiber array to an output array. This confocal switch architecture is well suited for simultaneous switching of multiple wavelength channels. We show that confocal switches with low insertion loss, low crosstalk, and large port counts can be implemented with surface-micromachined mirror arrays, and we demonstrate a 2/spl times/2 single-mode (1550 nm) switch configuration with insertion loss of -4.2 dB and crosstalk of -50.5 dB. Our micromirror design has sufficient size and angular deflection for scaling to 32/spl times/32 ports.
Keywords :
beam steering; micro-optics; micromachining; mirrors; optical arrays; optical communication equipment; optical crosstalk; optical focusing; optical interconnections; optical switches; 1550 nm; 4.2 dB; angular deflection; confocal switch architecture; confocal switches; free-space optical fiber cross-connect; input-fiber array; insertion loss; large port counts; low crosstalk; low insertion loss; micromachined mirrors; micromirror arrays; multiple wavelength channels; output array; redirect optical beams; scalable optical cross-connect switch; scaling; single-mode 1550 nm switch configuration; size; surface-micromachined mirror arrays; Insertion loss; Micromirrors; Mirrors; Optical arrays; Optical beams; Optical crosstalk; Optical fibers; Optical losses; Optical surface waves; Optical switches;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE