US 2002/0172454 A1 · Reconfigurable optical add/drop module

Abstract

An optical add/drop module includes an add channel, an input channel, a drop channel and an output channel, with each channel aligned to transmit or receive light reflected from a common mirror in at least one state of the add/drop module. Rotating the mirror changes the state of the module. In the module's add/drop state, light from the input channel reflects from the mirror into the drop channel and light from the add channel reflects off the mirror to the output channel. In the module's pass through state, light from the input channel reflects off the mirror into the output channel and light from the add channel reflects off the mirror to a position other than the drop channel. Arrays of add, input, drop and output channels can be coupled to a linear array of independent micro-electromechanical mirrors to provide an integrated set of optical add/drop modules.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An optical system, comprising:

a switching mirror defining a first switch state and a second switch state;
an input port positioned to provide input light to the switching mirror;
an add port positioned to provide add light to the switching mirror;
an output port, the output port positioned to receive the input light from the switching mirror in the first switch state and to receive the add light from the switching mirror in the second switch state;
and
a drop port, the drop port positioned to receive the input light from the switching mirror in the second switch state.

3 more elements

An optical system, comprising:

an array of switching mirrors including a first switching mirror defining a first switch state and a second switch state;
a first input port positioned to provide first input light to the first switching mirror;
a first add port positioned to provide first add light to the first switching mirror;
a first output port, the first output port positioned to receive the first input light from the first switching mirror in the first switch state and to receive the first add light from the first switching mirror in the second switch state;
and
a first drop port, the first drop port positioned to receive the first input light from the first switching mirror in the second switch state.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reconfigurable optical add/drop module

Life of this patent

Reconfigurable optical add/drop module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31