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US 6,195,187 B1Granted
Wavelength-division multiplexed M×N×M cross-connect switch using active microring resonators
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsRichard A. Soref, Brent E. Little
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Large-scale switching array architectures for multiwavelength routing employ absorption-switched micro-ring resonator 2×2 switches at all optical cross-points of each of a plurality of series-connected waveguide crossbar matrix switches. The architecture eliminates detrimental waveguide crossovers. Two or four coupled micro-rings made from layered III-V or II-VI hetrostructure material can aid in maintaining cross-talk at very low levels while employing simple switch addressing methods.
Claims47
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:
- (a) a plurality of N cascaded optical matrix switches connected together in optical series, where N is an integer, each matrix switch including a number of light waveguides and an array of active micro-sized lightwave micro-resonator cross-point light-switching elements associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions, and wherein said light-switching elements of each matrix switch are responsive to a particular wavelength of light λi, where i=1 . . . N, assigned to a particular matrix of the N-wavelength routing network and are unresponsive to other wavelengths assigned to other matrices of the network;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for causing selected light-switching elements to assume a cross state for switching resonant light across associated cross-points, or a bar state for forwarding light without traversing cross-points.
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cascaded optical matrix switches connected together in optical series, each matrix switch including a number of light waveguides and an array of lightwave micro-resonator cross-point light-switching elements associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions, and wherein said light-switching elements of each matrix switch are responsive to a particular wavelength of light assigned to a particular matrix of the routing network and are unresponsive to other wavelengths assigned to other matrices of the routing network;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for causing selected light-switching elements to assume a cross state for switching resonant light across associated cross-points, or a bar state for forwarding light without traversing cross-points.
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:
- (a) at least one light signal routing matrix having a number of light waveguides and an array of lightwave micro-resonator light-switching elements associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions, and wherein said light-switching elements of each matrix are responsive to a particular wavelength of light and are not responsive to other wavelengths of light that may be assigned to other matrices of said routing network;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for causing selected light-switching elements to assume a cross state for switching resonant light across associated cross-points, or a bar state for forwarding light without traversing cross-points.
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cascaded optical light transmissive switching matrices connected together in optical series, each matrix including a number of light-switching elements, each light-switching element including passive lightwave micro-resonators associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions of said matrices, and electro-optical switch means for selectively applying incoming light signals to selected lightwave micro-resonators or alternatively, shunting incoming light signals around non-selected lightwave micro-resonators, and wherein said lightwave micro-resonators of each matrix are responsive to a particular wavelength of light assigned to a particular matrix of the routing network and are unresponsive to wavelengths assigned to other matrices of the network;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for controlling said electro-optic switch means for preventing application of incoming light signals to non-selected lightwave micro-resonators.
An optical switching matrix comprising:
- (a) a matrix including a number of light-switching elements including passive lightwave micro-resonators associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions of the matrix and electro-optical switch means for selectively applying incoming light signals to selected passive lightwave micro-resonators or alternatively, shunting incoming light signals around said selected passive lightwave micro-resonators;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for controlling said electro-optic switch means for preventing application of incoming light signals to non-selected micro-resonators.
A wavelength-division-multiplexed routing network comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cascaded optical matrix switches connected together in optical series, each matrix including a number of light waveguides and an array of cross-point light-switching elements associated with cross-points between non-intersecting light waveguide portions, and wherein said light-switching elements of each array are responsive to a particular wavelength of light assigned to a particular matrix of the routing network and are unresponsive to other wavelengths assigned to other matrices of the routing network;
- and
- (b) switching element control means for causing selected light-switching elements to assume a cross state for switching light across associated cross-points, or a bar state for forwarding light without traversing cross-points.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.