Scalable micro mechanical optical crossconnects

Roland Ryf; David T. Neilson; C. Randy Giles

doi:10.1117/12.450424

13 December 2001 Scalable micro mechanical optical crossconnects

Roland Ryf, David T. Neilson, C. Randy Giles

Proceedings Volume 4455, Micro- and Nano-optics for Optical Interconnection and Information Processing; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450424
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Optical crossconnect switches with large port counts are the key components for the management of upcoming optical networks. Most technologies proposed for optical switches are essentially planar in geometry, which leads to switch dimensions scaling with the square of the port number. Planar technologies will not scale beyond 64 X 64 ports. To achieve larger (256 X 256, 1296 X 1296) switches, a three dimensional switch geometry is required. Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are the key technology to implement array of small two tilt axis beam steering mirrors. The presented systems consist of 2D arrays of MEMS mirrors and 2D fiber arrays each with a collimating microlens array. A cross connect path consist of light leaving one fiber and being collimated and projected onto a MEMS micro-mirror by a microlens. The first micro-mirror tilts so as to direct the beam onto a second micro-mirror, and the second micro-mirror tilts so as to direct the light towards a microlens where it is coupled into the output fiber. In this configuration the length of the switch scales linearly with number of ports, and the maximum port number is determined by used the micro mirror technology. Two switches are presented: the first with 256 port and a mean insertion loss of 7 dB and the second with 1296 ports and an insertion loss of 5.1 dB. Both switch show a crosstalk smaller than -50 dB. The optical performance has been verified with input optical signals ranging from 40 DWDM 40 Gb/s and 320 Gb/s TDM data. On the switch with 1296 ports a potential aggregate switch capacity of 2.08 Petabit/s has been demonstrated.

Citation Download Citation

Roland Ryf, David T. Neilson, and C. Randy Giles "Scalable micro mechanical optical crossconnects", Proc. SPIE 4455, Micro- and Nano-optics for Optical Interconnection and Information Processing, (13 December 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450424

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available