3D image feedback optical beam alignment

An optical switch comprising:

• a reference mirror that reflects a signal wavelength of light and transmits a reference wavelength of light;
• a first adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a first reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• a second adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a second reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said second adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• at least one input optical fiber;
• at least one output optical fiber, said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber having an optical path between said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber, said optical path reflecting off said first adjustable mirror array, said reference mirror, and said second adjustable mirror array, wherein
• a pre-determined location is a unique location on said reference mirror where an angle of incidence is equal to an angle of reflection for said optical path;
• a detector array adjacent said reference mirror, wherein said detector array:
• indicates a first position of said first reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array, and
• indicates a second position of said second reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array;
• a controller that:
• receives said first position and adjusts said first adjustable mirror array so that said first position is moved to said pre-determined location and
• receives said second position and adjusts said second adjustable mirror array so that said second position is moved to said pre-determined location,
• thereby establishing an optical beam alignment for a signal light beam having said signal wavelength wherein said signal light beam propagates on said optical path between said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber.

A 3-dimensional optical cross-connect switch comprising:

• a reference mirror that reflects a signal wavelength of light and transmits a reference wavelength of light;
• a first adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a first reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• a second adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a second reference light beam having said reference wavelength is reflected from said second adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• an input fiber array comprising at least one input optical fiber, said at least one input optical fiber transmitting said first reference light beam at said reference wavelength;
• an output fiber array comprising at least one output optical fiber, said at least one output optical fiber transmitting said second reference light beam at said reference wavelength;
• said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber having an optical path between said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber;
• said optical path reflecting off said first adjustable mirror array, said reference mirror, and said second adjustable mirror array, wherein:
• a pre-determined location is a unique location on said reference mirror where an angle of incidence is equal to an angle of reflection for said optical path;
• a detector array adjacent said reference mirror, said detector array comprising a plurality of charge-coupled devices, said plurality of charge-coupled devices sensing a first position of said first reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array and said plurality of charge-coupled devices sensing a second position of said second reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array, wherein said detector array indicates said first position and said second position relative to said at least one input optical fiber and said at least one output optical fiber;
• a controller comprising a memory, said pre-determined location being stored in said memory, wherein said controller:
• receives said first position and adjusts said first adjustable mirror array so that said first position is moved to said pre-determined location and
• receives said second position and adjusts said second adjustable mirror array so that said second position is moved to said pre-determined location,
• thereby establishing an optical beam alignment for a signal light beam having said signal wavelength wherein said signal light beam is transmitted from said at least one input optical fiber at said signal wavelength on said optical path to said at least one output optical fiber.

An optical switching network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes wherein at least one of said plurality of nodes comprises an optical switch;
• a plurality of links wherein:
• each of said plurality of links comprises at least one optical fiber,
• each of said plurality of links optically connects two of said plurality of nodes,
• at least one of said plurality of links includes an input optical fiber connected to said optical switch, and
• at least one of said plurality of links includes an output optical fiber connected to said optical switch;
• wherein said optical switch comprises:
• a reference mirror that reflects a signal wavelength of light and transmits a reference wavelength of light;
• a first adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a first reference light beam having said reference wavelength transmitted through said input optical fiber is reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• a second adjustable mirror array disposed relative to said reference mirror such that a second reference light beam having said reference wavelength transmitted through said output optical fiber is reflected from said second adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror;
• a detector array adjacent said reference mirror, wherein said detector array:
• indicates a first position of said first reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said mirror to said detector array, and
• indicates a second position of said second reference light beam incident on said reference mirror and transmitted through said reference mirror to said detector array;
• a controller comprising a memory, with a pre-determined location being stored in said memory, wherein said controller:
• receives said first position and adjusts said first adjustable mirror array so that said first position is moved to said pre-determined location on said reference mirror and
• receives said second position and adjusts said second adjustable mirror array so that said second position is moved to said pre-determined location,
• thereby establishing an optical beam alignment for a signal light beam having said signal wavelength wherein said signal light beam is transmitted through said input optical fiber, reflected from said first adjustable mirror array to said reference mirror, reflected from said reference mirror to said second adjustable mirror array, and transmitted through said output optical fiber.

A method for optical beam alignment comprising steps of:

• directing a first reference light beam from a first optical fiber to be incident on a reference mirror at a first position;
• directing a second reference light beam from a second optical fiber to be incident on said reference mirror at a second position;
• and
• forming an aligned optical path by moving said first position and said second position to a pre-determined location on said reference mirror where an angle of incidence of said first reference light beam on said reference mirror is equal to an angle of incidence of said second reference light beam on said reference mirror.

A method for optically switching light beams in an optical switch, comprising steps of:

• selecting an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber to be optically connected to each other;
• inserting a first reference light beam in said input optical fiber to be incident on a reference mirror at a first position;
• inserting a second reference light beam in said output optical fiber to be incident on said reference mirror at a second position;
• and
• adjusting said first position and said second position to a pre-determined location on said reference mirror where an angle of incidence of said first reference light beam on said reference mirror is equal to an angle of incidence of said second reference light beam on said reference mirror, thereby forming an aligned optical path between said input optical fiber and said output optical fiber.