Claims
- 1. An optical switching device, comprising:
(A) a plurality of optical signal carriers including at least one source and at least one target, each carrier adapted to communicate an optical signal; (B) at least a first and second switch element, each switch element adapted to receive an optical signal from a source and transmit an optical signal to a target; and (C) at least one bandpass filter positioned in an optical path between the plurality of optical carriers and the first switch element, the bandpass filter adapted to transmit light in a predetermined range of wavelengths and reflect light outside of the predetermined range of wavelengths, wherein light in the predetermined range of wavelengths is transmitted to the first switch element and light outside of the predetermined range of wavelengths is reflected to the second switch element.
- 2. The optical switching device of claim 1 further comprising at least one lens in an optical path between the plurality of optical signal carriers and the bandpass filter.
- 3. The optical switching device of claim 1 further comprising at least one mirror in an optical path between the bandpass filter and the second switch element, wherein light reflected by the bandpass filter is reflected by the mirror to the second switch element.
- 4. The optical switching device of claim 3 further comprising a first lens in an optical path between the bandpass filter and the mirror.
- 5. The optical switching device of claim 4 further comprising a second lens in an optical path between the mirror and the second switch element.
- 6. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein first and second lenses telecentrically image the optical signal.
- 7. The optical switching device of claim 1 further comprising a collimating lens positioned in an optical path between the plurality of optical signal carriers and the first switch element.
- 8. The optical switching device of claim 1 further comprising a prism in an optical path between the bandpass filter and the switch element.
- 9. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein the bandpass filter is positioned so optical signals are received at nearly normal incidence.
- 10. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein the bandpass filter receives an optical signal at a non-normal incidence and the first switching element receives the optical signal at nearly normal incidence.
- 11. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein an optical signal passing through the switching device follows a substantially zig-zag path.
- 12. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein the switch element is arranged substantially vertically.
- 13. The optical switching device of claim 1 further comprising a wide-band demultiplexing unit of similar constriction.
- 14. The optical switching device of claim 1 wherein each switch element includes:
(A) at least one detector positioned to receive an optical signal from at least one optical signal carrier, the detector being adapted to detect an optical signal; (B) at least one emitter array positioned to transmit light to at least one optical signal carrier, the emitter array comprising a plurality of emitters, each emitter being adapted to generate an optical signal, wherein an optical signal generated by each emitter is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of optical signal carriers; and (C) a switch controller in communication with the detector and the emitter array, the switch controller being adapted to cause the emitter array to generate the detected optical signal.
- 15. A method of switching a multiplexed optical signal, the method comprising:
(A) transmitting a multiplexed optical signal; (B) filtering the multiplexed optical signal into first and second optical signals, the first optical signal being inside a predetermined range of wavelengths, the second optical signal being outside of the range of wavelengths; (C) transmitting the first optical signal to a first switch element; and (D) transmitting the second optical signal to a second switch element.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein filtering the multiplexed optical signal is performed by a bandpass filter.
- 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising imaging the multiplexed optical signal on the bandpass filter.
- 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising collimating the multiplexed optical signal.
- 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transmitting the multiplexed optical signal is performed at least in party by an optical signal carrier, further comprising reflecting the multiplexed optical signal between the optical signal carrier and the first switch element.
- 20. The method of claim 15 comprising reflecting the second optical signal to the second switch element.
- 21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
(A) the first switch element detecting the first optical signal; (B) the first switch element determining the destination of the optical signal; (C) the first switch element emitting the first optical signal; and (D) transmitting the first optical signal to target.
- 22. An optical switching system comprising:
(A) a plurality of optical signal carriers including at least one source and at least one target, each carrier adapted to communicate an optical signal; (B) a plurality of banks of optical switching devices, each bank including:
(a) at least a first and second switch element, each switch element adapted to receive an optical signal from a source and transmit an optical signal to a target; and (b) at least one bandpass filter positioned in an optical path between the plurality of optical carriers and the first switch element, the bandpass filter adapted to transmit light in a predetermined range of wavelengths and reflect light outside of the predetermined range of wavelengths, wherein light in the predetermined range of wavelengths is transmitted to the first switch element and light outside of the predetermined range of wavelengths is reflected to the second switch element; and (C) a wide-band demultiplexing device in the optical path between the plurality of optical signal carriers and each bank, the wideband demultiplexing device adapted to transmit optical signals in a predetermined range of wavelengths to each bank.
- 23. The system of claim 22 wherein the wide-band demultiplexing device comprises a bandpass filter, the bandpass filter being adapted to transmit light inside of the predetermined range of wavelengths to at least one bank.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/716,196, filed Nov. 17, 2000, incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09716196 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
09826982 |
Apr 2001 |
US |