Patent · US Expired

Optical space switch

US4952010A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
11References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 1988
Grant dateAug 28, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03H1/0005
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical space switch is used in a centralized switching system for an optical network and connects light from one of a number of inputs (1) to a selected one of a number of outputs (6). The switch includes a number of multiplexed phase volume holograms (4), a spatial light modulator (3) for imposing a selected phase change on light passing through it, distribution means (2) for coupling light from the inputs (1) via the spatial light modulator (3) to the multiplexed phase volume holograms (4), and collection means (5) for collecting light diffracted by the multiplexed phase volume holograms (4). Each multiplexed phase volume hologram (4) diffracts light to a selected output (6) in dependence upon the phase change imposed by the spatial light modulator (3) on the light incident upon that hologram (4).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.