System architecture of optical switching fabric
US6636656B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/359
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switching fabric enables an optical signal entering the device on any one of multiple input ports to be directed to any one of multiple output ports. The present optical switching fabrics include sensing and monitoring devices that permit precise initial calibration and continuous switch connection status monitoring and control. Light entering the switching fabric on an input port is reflected by one of a first set of individually controllable mirrors to one of a second set of individually controllable mirrors and then to a corresponding output port. The switching fabrics include control lasers and position sensing devices which provide output signals corresponding to the orientations of the mirrors. In addition, a subset of the input ports and output ports can be attached to monitor light sources and detectors for recalibration and control. Further, sensors for detecting the intensity of input signals, of signals that have been reflected by a mirror in the first set and by a mirror in the second set, and of signals backscattered from the output ports may be included.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.