Optical switch having MEMS array with reduced optical loss

US6690849B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Tellium, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jerry Dadap · Red Bank, US
• Nicolas Hernan Bonadeo · Olavarría, AR
• Chauhan Daniel Lee · Middletown, US
• Keren Bergman · Princeton, US
• Igal Brener · Albuquerque, US
• David R. Peale · Chatham, US
• Kophu Chiang · Edison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 5, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 10, 2004
• Expiry date: Feb 26, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04Q2011/0039
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An optical switch includes a plurality of first optical fibers, a plurality of second optical fibers, a first MEMS array, and a second MEMS array. The first MEMS array is optically coupled with the first optical fibers to receive optical signals from the first optical fibers and to direct the optical signals, wherein the first MEMS array defines a first array incidence angle between a normal direction to the first MEMS array and a direction of the received optical signals. The second MEMS array is optically coupled with the first MEMS array to receive the directed optical signals and to re-direct the directed optical signals with the second optical fibers wherein the second MEMS array defines a second array incidence angle between a normal direction to second MEMS array and a direction of the re-directed optical signals. The configuration of the components is provided to provide reduced optical losses.