Switch for selectively switching optical wavelengths
AssigneeBell Communications Research, Inc.
InventorKwok-Wai Cheung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A 2.times.2 optical switching element is described. Illustratively, the switching element includes first and second inputs for receiving optical radiation and first and second outputs for transmitting optical radiation. The switching element also includes mode conversion means for selectively switching optical radiation of a specific wavelength arriving via one of the inputs to either or both ouptus by selectively controlling the conversion of the radiation at the specific wavelength from one mode to another. An N.times.N switch may be formed from an array of the 2.times.2 switching element.
Claims16
An optical switching element comprising
- a first input for receiving optical radiation comprising a first plurality of optical wavelengths all having a first propagation mode,
- a second input for receiving optical radiation comprising a second plurality of wavelengths all having a second propagation mode,
- means for combining said wavelengths of said first and second pluralities while preserving said propagation modes,
- means in communication with an output of said combining means for converting one or more of said wavelengths from one of said modes to the other of said modes in response to a signal applied thereto, and
- means in communication with an output of said converting means for separating said wavelengths according to propagation mode.
A 2.times.2 optical switching element comprising
- first and second inputs for receiving optical radiation,
- first and second outputs for transmitting optical radiation, and
- mode conversion means for selectively switching optical radiation of a specific wavelength arriving via one of said inputs to either or both of said outputs by selectively controlling the conversion of said radiation at said specific wavelength from one propagation mode to another.
An N.times.N optical switch comprising N inputs and N outputs, said switch being capable of switching optical radiation at a specific wavelength from a specific one of said N inputs to one or more specific ones of said N outputs, said switch being formed from an array of 2.times.2 switching elements, each of said 2.times.2 switching elements comprising two inputs, two outputs and means for switching radiation at a specific wavelength arriving via one of said two inputs to either or both of said two outputs in response to a signal applied thereto.
An optical switching element comprising
- mode combining means for combining first optical wavelengths of a first propagation mode at a first input with second optical wavelengths of a second propagation mode orthogonal to said first mode at a second input,
- mode toggle control means connected to said mode combining means for determining the propagation modes of said first and second optical wavelengths, and
- mode separator means connected to said mode toggle control means for separating said first and second wavelengths to first and second outputs dependent upon the propagation mode of said first and second wavelengths as determined by said mode toggle control means.
A method of switching optical signals appearing on two input leads to one of two output leads and wherein said signals on said input leads are of orthogonal propagation modes comprising the steps of combining said optical signals with their original propagation modes, individually determining that each of said optical signals shall retain its original propagation mode or be changed to the orthogonal propagation mode, and
- separating said optical signals with said thus determined propagation modes to one or the other of said output leads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.