Optoelectronic multibit beamsteering switching apparatus

Optoelectronic switching apparatus comprising:

• an input signal network comprising a signal input that is adapted to receive a modulating input signal, and a plurality of signal outputs;
• a laser transmitter section comprising a plurality of laser switches that each comprise a laser having a signal input coupled to a respective signal output of the input signal network and that is adapted to receive the modulating input signal and provide a modulated optical output signal in response thereto, and a control switch having a control signal input, a bias voltage input adapted to receive a first bias voltage and an output coupled to the laser that is adapted to apply the first bias voltage to the laser in accordance with control signals applied thereto;
• a light receiver section comprising a plurality of photodiode switches that each comprise a photodetector having a signal input and a signal output, and a control switch having a control signal input that is adapted to apply a second bias voltage to the photodetector, and which is adapted to provide a demodulated electrical output signal derived from the modulated optical output signal provided by the laser transmitter section;
• an output signal network having a plurality of signal inputs and a signal output, and wherein individual ones of the plurality of signal inputs are coupled to signal outputs of each respective photodiode switch;
• an interconnected passive optical network comprising an optical coupler and a plurality of input and output optical coupling means that is coupled between the transmitter section and the receiver section, and wherein individual input optical coupling means are optically coupled to respective signal outputs of the plurality of laser switches, and wherein individual output optical coupling means are optically coupled to respective signal inputs of respective ones of the plurality of photodiode switches, and wherein each of the input and output optical coupling means provides a predetermined optical delay length for optical energy transmitted thereby;
• and
• a control signal generator coupled to respective control inputs of the plurality of laser switches and the plurality of photodiode switches for providing control signals that are adapted to activate a selected pair of switches to transmit the modulated optical output signal along a path defined by the respective input and output optical coupling means connected to the selected pair of switches, and demodulate the modulated optical output signal, and wherein the demodulated signal has a predetermined delay associated therewith.