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US 2002/0118909 A1Published application
Signal monitoring in an optical cross-connect
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorBernd X. Weis
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAlcatel
InventorBernd X. Weis
Estimating the term…
An optical cross-connect (OCX) contains an optical switching array (A, S) based on MEM technology, which is used for switching optical connections. The switching array (A) consists of a plurality of movable miniature mirrors (M), with a reflective coating (RL), respectively arranged in the light path of the individual optical connections. In order to generate a monitoring signal for each of the optical communication signals to be switched, a light component (THRU) passing through the reflective coating (RL) is detected at least at some of the miniature mirrors (M). To that end, the miniature mirror (M) has a photosensitive layer (PL) which is arranged under a light-reflecting layer (RL) and which responds to the light components (THRU) passing through the light-reflecting layer, in order to generate the monitoring signal.
A miniature mirror for use in an optical cross-connect, comprising a light-reflecting layer and a photosensitive layer which is arranged under the light-reflecting layer and which responds to the light components passing through the light-reflecting layer.
An optical cross-connect for switching a plurality of optical connections comprising an optical MEM switching array comprising a plurality of movable miniature mirrors respectively arranged in the light path of the individual optical connections, wherein at least some of the miniature mirrors respectively comprise a photosensitive layer which is arranged under a light-reflecting layer and which responds to the light components passing through the light-reflecting layer, in order to generate a monitoring signal.
A switching array based on MEM technology for an optical cross-connect, the switching array comprising plurality of movable mirrors, wherein at least some of the miniature mirrors respectively comprise a photosensitive layer which is arranged under a light-reflecting layer and which responds to the light components passing through the light-reflecting layer, in order to generate a monitoring signal.
A method for generating a monitoring signal during the all-optical switching of an optical connection in an optical cross-connect by means of a miniature mirror, the method comprising the step of detecting light components which pass through a reflecting layer of the miniature mirror in order to generate the monitoring signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.