Method and device for wavelength switching, wavelength division multiplexing, and time division multiplexing
AssigneeGeneral Nutronics, Inc.
InventorRichard B. Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention enables a plurality of switch elements, each capable of receiving and transmitting a specific wavelength of light, to exchange information and to multiplex temporally-encoded information in time from two or more of the local processors. The process is accomplished by the use of an intermediate plane that has one or more ports that can detect light over a broad band of wavelengths, and that can transmit light at one or more specific wavelengths back to the local processors. The ports may be used to transmit time multiplexed and/or wavelength multiplexed signals.
Claims42
An optical signal altering 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) a plurality of switch elements, each switch element adapted to receive an optical signal from a source and transmit the optical signal to a target;
- and
- (C) at least one port positioned to receive optical signals from and transmit optical signals to at least one switch element, the port being adapted to receive an optical signal having a first wavelength and transmit an optical signal having a second wavelength.
An optical switching device comprising:
- (A) at least a first and second switch element, each switch element comprising the following:
- (a) at least one detector, the detector being adapted to detect optical signals;
- (b) an emitter array positioned to transmit light to a plurality of targets, the emitter array comprising a plurality of emitters, each emitter being adapted to generate light signals, wherein optical signals generated by each emitter is transmitted to at least one target;
- (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 signal;
- (B) a beam splitter adapted to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength and allow light outside of the predetermined wavelength to pass through the beam splitter, the beam splitter being positioned to reflect light transmitted by a source to the detector of the first switch element, the detector of the second switch element being positioned to receive light that passes through the beam splitter;
- and
- (C) a port adapted to receive an optical signal having a first wavelength transmitted from an emitter of at least one first switch element and transmit an optical signal having a second wavelength to at least one second switch element.
22 The optical switching device of claim 19 wherein the port is adapted to receive a plurality of optical signals from a plurality of switch elements over a period of time and transmit a time-multiplexed optical signal.
24 The optical switching device of claim 23 wherein the port emitter transmits the optical signal at a set wavelength.
An optical switch element for use with at least one source, the source being adapted to transmit an optical signal to the optical switch element, and a plurality of targets, the targets being adapted to receive the optical signal from the optical switch element, the optical switch element comprising:
- (A) a beam splitter, the beam splitter being adapted to transmit light in a first predetermined polarization and reflect light in a second predetermined polarization;
- (B) a first wave plate positioned between the source and the beam splitter, the first wave plate being adapted to transmit light in the polarization that is reflected by the beam splitter, wherein light transmitted by the source passes through the wave plate and is reflected by the beam splitter;
- (C) a first micro-electromechanical mirror positioned to receive light reflected by the beam splitter, the first micro-electromechanical mirror being adapted to selectively reflect light in a plurality of paths, the paths corresponding to the positions of the plurality of targets;
- (D) a second micro-electromechanical mirror positioned to receive light reflected by the first micro-electromechanical mirror, the second micro-electromechanical mirror being adapted to reflect light in a path, the path being a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of the targets;
- (E) a second wave plate positioned between the second micro-electromechanical mirror and the beam splitter, the second wave plate being adapted to transmit light in the polarization that is transmitted by the beam splitter, wherein light reflected by the second micro-electromechanical mirror passes through the second wave plate and is transmitted by the beam splitter;
- and
- (F) a port adapted to receive an optical signal having a first wavelength from at least one first switch element and transmit an optical signal having a second wavelength.
A method of switching optical signals, the method comprising the following steps:
- (A) providing at least a first and second switch element, each switch element comprising:
- (a) a detector positioned to receive light from a source, the detector being adapted to detect optical signals;
- and
- (b) an emitter array positioned to transmit light to a plurality of targets, the emitter comprising a plurality of emitters, each emitter being adapted to generate light signals, wherein light signals generated by each emitter is transmitted to at least one predetermined target;
- (B) causing light of a predetermined range of wavelengths to be received by the detector of the first switch element;
- (C) causing light outside of the predetermined range of wavelengths to be received by the detector of the second switch element;
- (D) causing an emitter in at least one of the emitter arrays to generate the optical signal, the emitter in the emitter array corresponding to a predetermined port, wherein the optical signal is transmitted to the predetermined port;
- (E) converting a first wavelength of the optical signal received by the port to a second wavelength;
- (F) causing the optical signal having the second wavelength to be received by the detector of one of the switch elements;
- (G) determining a target to which to transmit the optical signal having the second wavelength;
- and
- (H) causing an emitter in at least one of the emitter arrays to generate the optical signal having the second wavelength, the emitter in the emitter array corresponding to a target, wherein the optical signal is transmitted to the target.
A system for multiplexing signals comprising:
- (A) a plurality of local processors each capable of receiving and transmitting a wavelength of light from at least one fiber;
- and
- (B) a port that detects optical signals over a range of wavelengths and transmits an optical signal at a set wavelength.
A system for multiplexing signals comprising:
- (C) a plurality of local processors each capable of receiving and transmitting a wavelength of light from at least one fiber;
- and
- (D) a port that detects optical signals over a range of time and transmits a multiplexed optical signal at a set wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.