Patent · US Active

Dual-ganged optical switch

US9429712B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
12References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 23, 2014
Grant dateAug 30, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2011/0049
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical switch is configured in a “dual-ganged” switch geometry to provide for the simultaneous switching of a selected transmit/receive pair of optical signal paths between a specific optical communication device and an optical communication network. A biaxially-symmetric signal redirection component may be used to direct the signals between the selected channel and the optical communication device. A specific waveguide (e.g., fiber) array topology within the dual-ganged switch (DGS) breaks the symmetry between the network transmit/receive arrays and a pair of transmit and receive signal paths associated with the communication device to improve isolation and minimize the possibility of cross-talk between non-selected waveguides in the transmit and receive arrays. The possibility of “hits” during switching between channels can be eliminated, and is controlled by dictating the process or switching steps used to rotate the biaxially-symmetric signal redirection element.

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