Claims
- 1. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a fiber array, the optical switch comprising:
a plurality of first cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in the fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal; a wavelength separating medium angularly diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the angularly diffracted light; and a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array, at least one beam director in the beam directors array positionable to direct at least some of the angularly diffracted light on an optical path through the rotationally symmetric lens, onto the wavelength separating medium, through the second cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of first cylindrical lenses.
- 2. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the wavelength separating medium and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 3. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 2, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 4. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength separating medium is a grating operating near Littrow.
- 5. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, further comprising a prism optically coupled to the wavelength separating medium.
- 6. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are positionable in two axes.
- 7. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 8. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 7, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 9. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 10. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 9, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 11. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, further comprising a first polarization converter optically between the fiber array and wavelength separating medium and a second polarization converter optically between the wavelength separating medium and the plurality of beam directors.
- 12. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, wherein the first and second polarization converters are birefringent crystal beam displacers in combination with a half wave plates.
- 13. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, wherein the wavelength separating medium is a grating operating near Littrow.
- 14. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, further comprising a prism optically coupled to the wavelength separating medium.
- 15. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are positionable in two axes.
- 16. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 17. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 16, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 18. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 11, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 19. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 18, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 20. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength separating medium is a transmissive grating operating near Littrow.
- 21. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 20, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the wavelength separating medium and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 22. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 21, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 23. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 20, further comprising a prism optically coupled to the wavelength separating medium.
- 24. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 20, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are positionable in two axes.
- 25. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 20, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 26. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 25, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 27. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 20, further comprising a first polarization converter optically between the fiber array and wavelength separating medium and a second polarization converter optically between the wavelength separating medium and the plurality of beam directors.
- 28. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 27, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the wavelength separating medium and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 29. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 28, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 30. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 27, further comprising a prism optically coupled to the wavelength separating medium.
- 31. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 27, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are positionable in two axes.
- 32. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 27, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 33. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 32, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 34. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 27, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 35. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 34, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 36. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a plurality of fiber arrays, the optical switch comprising:
a first plurality of cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in a first fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a first multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first wavelength separating medium angularly diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium into a plurality of angularly diffracted light signals, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the plurality of angularly diffracted light signals; a second rotationally symmetric lens positioned to collimate the plurality of angularly diffracted light signals into a second multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second wavelength separating medium angularly diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the second multi-axis collimated optical signal; a third cylindrical lens positioned to focus in the second axis the second multi-axis collimated optical signal; a fourth plurality of cylindrical lenses positioned to focus in the first axis the second multi-axis collimated optical signal; a plurality of transmissive beam directors in a beam director array, at least one transmissive beam director in the beam director array positionable to direct at least some of the plurality of angularly diffracted light signals on an optical path through the second rotationally symmetric lens, onto the second wavelength separating medium, through the third cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of fourth cylindrical lenses.
- 37. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 36, further comprising a first prism optically coupled to the first wavelength separating medium; and a second prism optically coupled to the second wavelength separating medium.
- 38. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of transmissive beam directors in the beam director array are positionable in two axes.
- 39. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of transmissive beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers.
- 40. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 39, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 41. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a fiber array, the optical switch comprising:
a plurality of first cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in the fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal; a polarization beam splitter for separating s-polarized and p-polarized states of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the s-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the p-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first quarter wave plate optically between the first wavelength separating medium and the polarization beam splitter; a second quarter wave plate optically between the second wavelength separating medium and the polarization beam splitter; a rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the angularly diffracted light; and a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array, at least one beam director in the beam director array positionable to direct at least some of the angularly diffracted light on an optical path through the rotationally symmetric lens, through the polarization beam splitter, through the first and second quarter wave plates, onto the first and second wavelength separating mediums, through the second cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of first cylindrical lenses.
- 42. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41, wherein the first and second wavelength separating mediums are gratings operating near Littrow.
- 43. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41, further comprising a first prism optically coupled to the first wavelength separating medium, and a second prism optically coupled to the second wavelength separating medium.
- 44. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the polarization beam splitter and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 45. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 44, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 46. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41, wherein the beam directors in the beam director are positionable in two axes.
- 47 The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 48. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 47, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 49. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 41 wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 50. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 49, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 51. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a fiber array, the optical switch comprising:
a plurality of first cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in the fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first polarization beam splitter for separating s-polarized and p-polarized states of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the s-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the p-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first half wave plate optically between the first polarization beam splitter and the first wavelength separating medium; a second half wave plate optically between the second wavelength separating medium and a second polarization beam splitter; a second polarization beam splitter for combining s-polarized and p-polarized states of light of the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the angularly diffracted light; and a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array, at least one beam director in the beam director array positionable to direct at least some of the angularly diffracted light on an optical path through the rotationally symmetric lens, through the second polarization beam splitter, through the first and second half wave plates, onto the first and second wavelength separating mediums, through the second cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of first cylindrical lenses.
- 52. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, wherein the first and second wavelength separating mediums are gratings operating near Littrow.
- 53. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, further comprising a first prism optically coupled to the first wavelength separating medium, and a second prism optically coupled to the second wavelength separating medium.
- 54. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the second polarization beam splitter and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 55. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 54, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 56. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, wherein the beam directors in the beam director are positionable in two axes.
- 57. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 58. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 57, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 59. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 51, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 60. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 59, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 61. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a fiber array, the optical switch comprising:
a plurality of first cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in the fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal; a polarization beam splitter for separating s-polarized and p-polarized states of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the s-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the p-polarized state of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first Faraday Rotator optically between the first wavelength separating medium and the polarization beam splitter; a second Faraday Rotator optically between the second wavelength separating medium and the polarization beam splitter; a rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the angularly diffracted light; and a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array, at least one beam director in the beam director array positionable to direct at least some of the angularly diffracted light on an optical path through the rotationally symmetric lens, through the polarization beam splitter, through the first and second Faraday rotators, onto the first and second wavelength separating mediums, through the second cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of first cylindrical lenses.
- 62. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, wherein the first and second wavelength separating mediums are gratings operating near Littrow.
- 63. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, further comprising a prism optically coupled to the polarization beam splitter.
- 64. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the polarization beam splitter and the rotationally symmetric lens.
- 65. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 64, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 66. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, wherein the beam directors in the beam director are positionable in two axes.
- 67. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 68. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 67, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 69. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 61, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 70. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 69, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 71. A wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers in a fiber array, the optical switch comprising:
a plurality of first cylindrical lenses positioned to collimate in a first axis an optical signal provided by a corresponding optical fiber in the fiber array forming a first axis collimated optical signal; a second cylindrical lens positioned to collimate in a second axis the first axis collimated optical signal to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first polarization beam splitter for separating s-polarized and p-polarized states of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the p-polarized states of light of the multi-axis collimated optical signal multi-axis collimated optical signal; a first half wave plate optically between the first wavelength separating medium and the first polarization beam splitter; a second wavelength separating medium diffracting light incident to the wavelength separating medium, the wavelength separating medium positioned to have incident thereon the s-polarized states of light of the multi-axis collimated optical signal multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second polarization beam splitter for combining s-polarized and p-polarized states of light from the multi-axis collimated optical signal; a second half wave plate optically between the second wavelength separating medium and the second polarization beam splitter; a rotationally symmetric lens positioned to focus the angularly diffracted light; and a plurality of beam directors in a beam directors array, at least beam directors in the beam directors array positionable to reflect at least some of the angularly diffracted light on an optical path through the rotationally symmetric lens, through the second polarization beam splitter, the second half wave plate, onto the first and second wavelength separating mediums, through the first half wave plate, through the first polarization beam splitter, the second cylindrical lens, and through a one of the plurality of first cylindrical lenses.
- 72. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, further comprising a polarization dependent optical component optically between the second polarization beam splitter and the rotationally symmetric lens element.
- 73. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 72, wherein the polarization dependent optical component is a quarter wave plate.
- 74. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, wherein the first and second wavelength separating mediums are transmissive gratings operating near Littrow.
- 75. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, further comprising a first prism optically coupled to the first wavelength separating medium, and a second prism optically coupled to the second wavelength separating medium.
- 76. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, wherein the beam directors in the beam director are positionable in two axes.
- 77. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are MEMS mirrors.
- 78. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 77, wherein the MEMS mirrors are positionable in two axes.
- 79. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 71, wherein the beam directors in the beam director array are liquid crystal beam steerers with a reflective backing.
- 80. The multi-channel optical switching system of claim 79, wherein the liquid crystal beam steerers are positionable in two axes.
- 81. A method performed by a wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers providing an optical signal, the method comprising:
collimating the optical signal in a first axis to form a first-axis collimated optical signal using at least one of a plurality of first cylindrical lenses; collimating the first-axis collimated optical signal in a second axis to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal using a second cylindrical lens; angularly diffracting the multi-axis collimated optical signal to form angularly diffracted light using a wavelength separating medium; focusing at least some of the angularly diffracted light on at least one of a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array using a rotationally symmetric lens; directing at least some of the angularly diffracted light using at least one of a plurality of beam directors; angularly diffracting the directed angularly diffracted light on a selected optical path to at least one of the plurality of fibers using the wavelength separating medium.
- 82. The method of claim 81, wherein the wavelength separating medium is a transmissive grating operating near Littrow.
- 83. A method performed by a wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers providing an optical signal, the method comprising:
collimating the optical signal in a first-axis to form a first-axis collimated optical signal using at least on of a plurality of first cylindrical lenses; collimating the first-axis collimated optical signal in a second axis to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal using a second cylindrical lens; splitting the multi-axis collimated optical signal into its s-polarized and p-polarized states using a polarization beam splitter; angularly diffracting the multi-axis collimated optical signal's s-polarized state to form angularly diffracted light using a first wavelength separating medium; angularly diffracting the multi-axis collimated optical signal's p-polarized state to form angularly diffracted light using a second wavelength separating medium; combining the multi-axis collimated optical signal's s-polarized and p-polarized states using the polarization beam splitter; focusing at least some of the angularly diffracted light on at least one of a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array using a rotationally symmetric lens; directing at least some of the angularly diffracted light using at least one of the plurality of beam directors; angularly diffracting the directed angularly diffracted light on a selected optical path to at least one of the plurality of fibers using the wavelength separating medium.
- 84. The method of claim 83, further comprising rotating the s-polarized state of the multi-axis collimated optical signal a first time before it is angularly diffracted by the first wavelength separating medium using a first Faraday rotator; and rotating the s-polarized state of the multi-axis collimated optical signal a second time after it is angularly diffracted by the first wavelength separating medium using the first Faraday rotator; and
rotating the p-polarized state of the multi-axis collimated optical signal a first time before it is angularly diffracted by the second wavelength separating medium using a second Faraday rotator; and rotating the p-polarized state of the multi-axis collimated optical signal a second time after it is angularly diffracted by the second wavelength separating medium using the second Faraday rotator;
- 85. A method performed by a wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a plurality of fibers providing an optical signal, the method comprising:
collimating the received optical signal in a first axis to form a first-axis collimated optical signal using at least one of a plurality of first cylindrical lenses; collimating the first-axis collimated optical signal in a second axis to form a multi-axis collimated optical signal using a second cylindrical lens; splitting the multi-axis collimated optical signal into its s-polarized and p-polarized states using a first polarization beam splitter; angularly diffracting the multi-axis collimated optical signal's s-polarized state to form angularly diffracted light using a first transmissive wavelength separating medium; angularly diffracting the multi-axis collimated optical signal's p-polarized state to form angularly diffracted light using a second transmissive wavelength separating medium; combining the multi-axis collimated optical signal's s-polarized and p-polarized states using a second polarization beam splitter; focusing at least some of the angularly diffracted light on at least one of a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array using a rotationally symmetric lens; directing at least some of the angularly diffracted light using at least one of the plurality of beam directors; angularly diffracting the directed angularly diffracted light on a selected optical path to at least one of the plurality of fibers using the wavelength separating medium.
- 86. A method performed by a wavelength selective optical switch optically coupled to a first plurality of fibers providing an optical signal, and optically coupled to a plurality of second fibers receiving an optical signal, the method comprising:
collimating a received optical signal in a first axis to form a first single-axis collimated optical signal using at least one of a plurality of first cylindrical lenses; collimating the first single axis collimated optical signal in a dual axis to form a first multi-axis collimated optical signal using a second cylindrical lens; angularly diffracting the dual-axis collimated optical signal to form angularly diffracted light using a first wavelength separating medium; focusing at least some of the angularly diffracted light on at least one of a plurality of beam directors in a beam director array using a first rotationally symmetric lens; directing at least some of the angularly diffracted light using at least one of the plurality of beam directors; collimating at least some of the directed angularly diffracted light into a second multi-axis collimated optical signal using a second rotationally symmetric lens; angularly diffracting the second multi-axis collimated optical signal on a selected optical path to at least one of the plurality of second fibers using a second wavelength separating medium; focusing the angularly diffracted second multi-axis collimated optical signal in the second axis using a third cylindrical lens; focusing the angularly diffracted second multi-axis collimated optical signal in the first axis to at least one of a plurality of fourth cylindrical lenses.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/388,358 filed Jun. 12, 2002, and No. 60/397,944 filed Jul. 23, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated fully herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60388358 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
|
60397944 |
Jul 2002 |
US |