US 2026/0003124 A1 · MULTIWAVELENGTH OPTICAL SWITCHING

Abstract

Described herein are optical switches that enable high-speed, low-loss, and low-crosstalk switching across multiple wavelengths within a CMOS-compatible platform. The optical switches described herein use resonant devices (e.g., microring resonators) controlled via carrier-induced phase modulation effects. To allow for multi-wavelength operation, the inventor proposes matching the free spectral range (FSR) of a resonant device to the spacing between adjacent WDM channels. By matching the FSR of a resonant device to the spacing between adjacent WDM channels, all the WDM channels can be switch simultaneously, thereby increasing the system's ability to perform parallel, high-speed switching. Resonant devices of the types described herein may be implemented in various ways. In one example, a device may be configured as a microring resonator, a closed-loop waveguide positioned adjacent to a bus waveguide, where light can couple into and out of the microring through evanescent coupling.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

an optical resonator exhibiting a free spectral range (FSR), wherein the optical resonator is configured to be in either a first state or a second state;
a drop port coupled to the optical resonator;
a thru port coupled to the optical resonator;
and
an input port coupled to the optical resonator, wherein the input port is configured to simultaneously receive a plurality of optical signals, each of the plurality of optical signals having a different carrier wavelength that aligns with the FSR of the optical resonator when in the first state.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiwavelength optical switching

Life of this patent

Multiwavelength optical switching

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20