Optical cross connect switch with axial alignment beam
US7050669B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0073
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical cross connect switch. In this switch any optical fiber in an input set of optical fibers, each carrying a communication beam, can be cross connected to any optical fiber in an output set of optical fibers. An alignment beam is added to and aligned co-axially with the communication beam carried by each fiber in the input set of optical fibers to define a communication-alignment beam for each fiber. Each communication-alignment beam is directed within a confined optical pathway to a specific exit aperture in an input array structure. The exit apertures for all of the communication-alignment beams are arranged in a pattern defining an input array so that each communication-alignment beam can be identified by the location of its exit aperture in the input array structure. Each communication-alignment beam is formed into a cross-connection beam by a micro-lens in a first lens micro-lens array. Each cross-connection beam is directed to a lens in a second lens array by two mirrors, a first mirror in a first mirror array and a second mirror in a second mirror array. The lens in the second micro-lens array focuses the communication beams into a specific input aperture of a confin…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.