Optical switch array capable of bidirectional signal transfer between a plurality of terminals

An optical signal transmitting system comprising:

• a first terminal group comprising M terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, where M is an integer of 2 or more;
• a second terminal group comprising N terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, wherein N is an integer of 2 or more;
• a shutter array comprising M.times.N shutters capable of being individually opened and closed, arranged in a matrix of M rows.times.N columns, said shutter array having first and second sides;
• first light-emitting means disposed at a first side of said shutter array, said first light-emitting means comprising M light sources which are driven according to signals inputted from said M terminals of said first terminal group, said M light sources respectively illuminating each row of said shutter array;
• second light-emitting means disposed at the first side of said shutter array, said second light-emitting means comprising N light sources which are driven according to signals inputted from said N terminals of said second terminal group, said N light sources respectively illuminating each column of said shutter array;
• first light receiving means disposed at a second side of said shutter array, said first light receiving means comprising M photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said second light-emitting means and passed through a respective row of said shutter array, said M photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said M terminals of said first terminal group;
• and
• second light receiving means disposed at the second side of said shutter array, said second light receiving means comprising N photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said first light-emitting means and passed through a respective column of said shutter array, said N photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said N terminals of said second terminal groups.

An optical switch array comprising:

• a shutter array comprising M.times.N shutters capable of being individually opened and closed, arranged in a matrix form of M rows.times.N columns, where M is an integer of 2 or more and N is an integer of 2 or more, said shutter array having first and second sides;
• first light-emitting means disposed at a first side or said shutter array, said first light-emitting means comprising M light sources each of which illuminates a half region of a respective column of said shutter array;
• second light-emitting means disposed at a second side of said shutter array, said second light-emitting means comprising N light sources each of which illuminates a half region of a respective row of said shutter array;
• first light receiving means disposed at the first side of said shutter array, said first light which receives a light emitted from said second light-emitting means and transmitted through the other half region of each respective row of said shutter array;
• and
• second light receiving means disposed at the second side of said shutter array, said second light receiving means comprising N photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said first light-emitting means and transmitted through the other half region of each respective column of said shutter array.

An optical signal transmitting system comprising:

• a first terminal group comprising M terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, where m is an integer of 2 or more;
• a second terminal group comprising N terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, wherein N is an integer of 2 or more;
• a shutter array comprising M.times.N shutters capable of being individually opened and closed, arranged in a matrix of M rows.times.N columns, said shutter array having first and second sides;
• first light-emitting means disposed at a first side of said shutter array, said first light-emitting means comprising M light sources each of which illuminates a half region of each respective row of said shutter array, said M light sources being driven according to signals inputted from said M terminals of said first terminal group;
• second light-emitting means disposed at a second side of said shutter array, said second light-emitting means comprising N light sources each of which illuminates a half region of a respective row of said shutter array, said N light sources being driven according to signals inputted from said N terminals of said second terminal group;
• first light receiving means disposed at the first side of said shutter array, said first light receiving means comprising M photodetectors each which receives a light emitted from said second light-emitting means and transmitted through the other half region of each respective row of said shutter array, said M photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said M terminals of said first terminal group;
• and
• second light receiving means disposed at the second side of said shutter array, said second light receiving means comprising N photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said first light-emitting means and transmitted through the other half region of each respective column of said shutter array, said N photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said N terminals of said second terminal group.

An optical switch array comprising:

• a shutter array comprising M.times.N shutters capable of being individually opened and closed, arranged in a matrix of M rows.times.N columns, where M is an integer of 2 or more and N is an integer of 2 or more, said shutter array having first and second sides;
• a first light-emitting means disposed at a first side of said shutter array, said first light-emitting means comprising M light sources each of which illuminates a respective row of said shutter array;
• second light-emitting means disposed at a second side of said shutter array, said second light-emitting means comprising N light sources each of which illuminates a respective column of said shutter array;
• first light receiving means disposed at the first side of said shutter array, and first light receiving means comprising M photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said second light-emitting means and transmitted through each respective row of said shutter array, said M photodetectors and said M light sources of said first light-emitting means being arranged parallel to each other at a position optically shifted with respect to said shutter array;
• and
• second light receiving means disposed at the second side of said shutter array, said second light receiving means comprising N photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said first light-emitting means and transmitted through each respective column of said shutter array, said N photodetectors and said N light sources of said second light-emitting means being arranged parallel to each other at a position optically shifted with respect to said shutter array.

An optical signal transmitting system comprising:

• a first terminal group comprising M terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, where M is an integer of 2 or more;
• a second terminal group comprising N terminals capable of receiving and transmitting signals, wherein N is an integer of 2 or more;
• a shutter array comprising M.times.N shutters capable of being individually opened and closed, arranged in a matrix form of M rows.times.N columns, said shutter array having first and second sides;
• first light-emitting means disposed at a first side of said shutter array, said first light-emitting means comprising M light sources each of which illuminates a respective row of said shutter array, said M light sources being driven according to signals inputted from said M terminals group;
• second light-emitting means disposed at a second side of said shutter array, said second light-emitting means comprising N light sources each of which illuminates a respective column of said shutter array, said N light sources being driven according to signals inputted from said N terminals of said second terminal group;
• first light receiving means disposed at the first side of said shutter array, and first light receiving means comprising M photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said second light-emitting means and transmitted through each respective row of said shutter array, said M photodetectors and said M light sources of said first light-emitting means being arranged parallel to each other at a position optically shifted with respect to said shutter array, said M photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said M terminals of said first terminal group;
• and
• second light receiving means disposed at the second side of said shutter array, said second light receiving means comprising N photodetectors each of which receives a light emitted from said first light-emitting means and transmitted through each respective column of said shutter array, said N photodetectors and said N light sources of said second light-emitting means being arranged parallel to each other at a position optically shifted with respect to said shutter array, said N photodetectors respectively outputting signals to said N of terminals of said second terminal group.

An optical switch array for connecting a first group of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a second group of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, comprising:

• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from said first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to signals input from said second group of terminals;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of M photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• first optical means for guiding beams from said first and second light-emitting means to said shutter array;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a front focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a front focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• and
• a first beam splitter for synthesizing the beam emitted from said first light-emitting means with the beam emitted from said second light-emitting means and guiding a synthesized beam to said shutter array,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different directions, and said first beams splitter comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

An optical switch array for connecting a first group of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a second group of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, comprising:

• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from said first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to signals input from said second group of terminals;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of M photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• first optical means for guiding beams from said first and second light-emitting means to said shutter array;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a front focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a front focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• and
• a first beam splitter for synthesizing the beam emitted from said first light-emitting means with the beam emitted from said second light-emitting means and guiding a synthesized beam to said shutter array,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams having different wavelengths, and said first beam splitter comprises a spectral beam splitter.

An optical switch array for connecting a first group of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a second group of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, comprising:

• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from said first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to signals input from said second group of terminals;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of M photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• optical means for guiding beams from said shutter array to said first and second light-receiving means;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-receiving means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• and
• a beam splitter for splitting the beam having passed through said shutter array and guiding split beams to said first and second light-receiving means,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different directions, and said beam splitter comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

An optical switch array for connecting a first group of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a second group of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, comprising:

• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from said first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to signals input from said second group of terminals;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of M photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• optical means for guiding beams from said shutter array to said first and second light-receiving means;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-receiving means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• and
• a beam splitter for splitting the beam having passed through said shutter array and guiding split beams to said first and second light-receiving means,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different directions, and said beam splitter comprises a spectral beam splitter.

An optical signal transmission system comprising:

• a first group consisting of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• a second group consisting of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from the first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to the signals input from the terminals of second group;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of m photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• first optical means for guiding beams from said first and second light-emitting means to said shutter array;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a front focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a front focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• and a first beam splitter for synthesizing the beam emitted from said first light-emitting means with the beam emitted from said second light-emitting means and guiding a synthesized beam to said shutter array,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different directions, and said first beams splitter comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

An optical signal transmission system comprising:

• a first group consisting of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• a second group consisting of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from the first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to the signals input from the terminals of second group;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of m photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• first optical means for guiding beams from said first and second light-emitting means to said shutter array;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a front focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a front focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• and a first beam splitter for synthesizing the beam emitted from said first light-emitting means with the beam emitted from said second light-emitting means and guiding a synthesized beam to said shutter array,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different wavelengths, and said first beams splitter comprises a spectral beam splitter.

An optical signal transmission system comprising:

• a first group consisting of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• a second group consisting of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from the first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to the signals input from the terminals of second group;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of m photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• optical means for guiding beams from said shutter array to said first and second light-receiving means;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-receiving means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• and
• a beam splitter for splitting the beam having passed through said shutter array and guiding split beams to said first and second light-receiving means,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different directions, and said beam splitter comprises a polarized beam splitter.

An optical signal transmission system comprising:

• a first group consisting of M terminals, wherein M is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• a second group consisting of N terminals, wherein N is an integer of not less than 1, capable of transmitting and receiving signals;
• first light-emitting means arranged in a first direction and consisting of M light sources driven in response to the signals input from the first group of terminals;
• second light-emitting means arranged in the first direction and consisting of N light sources driven in response to the signals input from the terminals of second group;
• first light-receiving means arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and consisting of m photodetectors for outputting the signals to said first group of terminals, said first light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said second light-emitting means;
• second light-receiving means arranged in the second direction and consisting of N photodetectors for outputting the signals to said second group of terminals, said second light-receiving means receiving a beam emitted from said first light-emitting means;
• a shutter array arranged in optical paths extending from said first and second light-emitting means to said first and second light-emitting means, said shutter array comprising M.times.N openable shutters arranged in a matrix form;
• optical means for guiding beams from said shutter array to said first and second light-receiving means;
• a first anamorphic optical system for keeping said second light-receiving means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the second direction and for locating said second light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said first anamorphic optical system in the first direction;
• a second anamorphic optical system for keeping said first light-emitting means and said shutter array in a conjugate relationship in the first direction and for locating said first light-emitting means at a rear focal position of said second anamorphic optical system in the second direction;
• and
• a beam splitter for splitting the beam having passed through said shutter array and guiding split beams to said first and second light-receiving means,
• wherein said first and second light-emitting means emit beams polarized in different wavelengths, and said beam splitter comprises a spectral beam splitter.