Optical Measurement System with Multiple Launch Sites

An optical measurement system comprising:

• a light source unit capable of generating light at any of a plurality of wavelengths;
• a multi-stage optical switch network optically connected to the light source unit;
• and
• a plurality of launch groups;
• wherein:
• the multi-stage optical switch network comprises a plurality of outputs, each of which is optically connected to a corresponding launch group of the plurality of launch groups, and
• the multi-stage optical switch network is controllable to selectively route the light generated by the light source unit to the plurality of launch groups at different output configurations.

A method of characterizing a sample comprising:

• selecting a plurality of wavelengths;
• performing a measurement sequence to generate a plurality of sets of output signals, comprising:
• dividing the plurality of wavelengths into a plurality of groups, wherein each group of the plurality of groups is associated with a different corresponding output configuration;
• performing a set of measurements of the sample for each wavelength of the plurality of wavelength at its corresponding output configuration;
• and
• generating, for each set of measurements, a corresponding set of output signals of the plurality of sets of output signals;
• and
• determining one or more properties of the sample using the plurality of sets of output signals.