Patent · US Active

Hitless MxN wavelength selective switch

US8233794B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by

5References

1Claims

0Family size

Inventors

Paul Colbourne · Ottawa, CA
Sheldon McLaughlin · Ottawa, CA
Stephen Robert de Hennin · Ottawa, CA
Pierre D. Wall · Ottawa, CA

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 9, 2009
Grant date	Jul 31, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 31, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04Q2011/0052
WIPO fieldTelecommunications
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wavelength selective switch (WSS) based on an array of MEMS mirrors tiltable in 1-dimension about only one axis exhibits “hitting” or unwanted port connections during switching. Two WSS's can be cascaded to create M×N switching functionality in a hitless manner by the inclusion of block ports at specified positions in one or both of the WSS's. Greater use efficiency of ports can be achieved if quasi-hitless performance is acceptable.

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