Liquid crystal on silicon element for dual-functionality beam steering in wavelength selective switches

An M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS), comprising:

• a monolithic beam steering engine, comprising:
• a first panel section to perform first beam steering of first beams,
• wherein the first beam steering is add/drop port beam steering, and
• wherein the first panel section has a first geometric configuration;
• a second panel section to perform second beam steering of second beams,
• wherein the second beam steering is common port beam steering, and
• wherein the second panel section has a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration;
• a third panel section to perform third beam steering of third beams,
• wherein the third beam steering is add/drop port beam steering, and
• wherein the third panel section has the first geometric configuration;
• and
• a fourth panel section to perform fourth beam steering of fourth beams,
• wherein the fourth beam steering is common port beam steering, and
• wherein the fourth panel section has the second geometric configuration;
• and
• at least one optical element aligned to the beam steering engine to:
• direct one of the first beams or the second beams relative to the other of the first beams or the second beams, such that the first beams are directed in a different direction from the second beams, and
• direct one of the third beams or the fourth beams relative to the other of the third beams or the fourth beams, such that the third beams are directed in a different direction from the fourth beams.

A method of controlling an M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS), comprising:

• configuring, by a device, a first panel section of a monolithic beam steering engine to perform first beam steering of first beams,
• wherein the first panel section has a first geometric configuration;
• configuring, by the device, a second panel section of the monolithic beam steering engine to perform second beam steering of second beams,
• wherein the second panel section has a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration, and
• wherein one of the first panel section or the second panel section is aligned to at least one optical element to separate a direction of the first beams from the second beams;
• configuring, by the device, a third panel section of the monolithic beam steering engine to perform third beam steering of third beams,
• wherein the third panel section has the first geometric configuration;
• and
• configuring, by the device, a fourth panel section of the monolithic beam steering engine to perform second beam steering of second beams,
• wherein the fourth panel section has the second geometric configuration, and
• wherein one of the third panel section or the fourth panel section is aligned to the at least one optical element to separate a direction of the third beams from the fourth beams.