US 6,320,996 B1 · Wavelength selective optical switch

Abstract

An optical switch for manipulating a plurality of input optical signals incident thereupon to split one or more optical signal channels from the plurality of input optical signals. The optical switch includes an optical filter having a first reflective region and a second reflective region. One of the first and the second reflective regions is adapted with a wavelength selective filter that is capable of separating one or more optical signal channels from the input optical signal. A translating mechanism cooperates with the optical filter and is adapted to translate the optical filter in a plane substantially parallel to one of the first reflective region and the second reflective region between a first position and a second position. The translation of the optical filter causes at least one of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal and directed in a second direction. Additionally, another of the one or more optical signal channels to be separated from the optical signal can be directed in a third direction.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An optical switch comprising:

an input optical fiber section capable of providing an optical signal;
an express optical fiber section;
a ferrule containing the input optical fiber section and the express optical fiber section, the ferrule being mechanically coupled to
a collimator to optically couple the input optical fiber section and the express optical fiber section to the collimator, the collimator being disposed to optically couple the optical signal to
an optical switch element having a broadband reflective region and a wavelength selective region, the wavelength selective region being capable of transmitting at least a selected channel of the optical signal through the optical switch element and reflecting at least a remaining portion of the optical signal through the collimator to the express optical fiber section;
and
an actuator mechanically coupled to the optical switch element and configured to move the optical switch element between a first switch position and a second switch position, the first switch position disposing the broadband reflective region in a path of the optical signal to reflect the optical signal to the express optical fiber section, and the second switch position disposing the wavelength selective region in the path of the optical signal to allow transmission of the selected channel through the optical switch element and to reflect at least the remaining portion of the optical signal to the express optical fiber section.

4 more elements

A four-port add/drop optical switch comprising:

a first three-port optical switch having
an input optical fiber section optically coupled to a first collimator,
a first express optical fiber section optically coupled to the first collimator,
a first optical switch element movably disposed on a first actuator between the first collimator and
a second collimator, the second collimator being optically coupled to a drop optical fiber section, the first optical switch element having a first wavelength selective region and a first broadband reflective region, the first wavelength selective region capable of transmitting a first selected range of wavelengths from the first collimator to the second collimator, the first actuator capable of moving the first optical switch element between a first switch position and a second switch position, the first switch position optically coupling the first wavelength selective region between the first collimator and the second collimator, and the second switch position optically coupling an input signal from the input optical fiber section to the first broadband reflective region and to the first express optical fiber section;
and
a second three-port optical switch having
the first express optical fiber section optically coupled to a third collimator,
a second express optical fiber section optically coupled to the third collimator,
a second optical switch element movably disposed on a second actuator between the third collimator and
a fourth collimator, the fourth collimator being optically coupled to an add optical fiber section, the second optical switch element having a second wavelength selective region and a second broadband reflective region, the second wavelength selective region capable of transmitting a second selected range of wavelengths from the third collimator to the fourth collimator, the second actuator capable of moving the second optical switch element between a third switch position and a fourth switch position, the third switch position optically coupling the second wavelength selective region between the third collimator and the fourth collimator, and the fourth switch position optically coupling a signal from the first express optical fiber section to the second broadband reflective region and to the second express optical fiber section.

8 more elements

A four-port add/drop optical switch comprising:

a first three-port optical switch having
an input optical fiber section optically coupled to a first collimator,
a first express optical fiber section optically coupled to the first collimator,
a first optical switch element movably disposed on a first actuator between the first collimator and
a second collimator, the second collimator being optically coupled to a drop optical fiber section, the first optical switch element having a first wavelength selective region and a first broadband reflective region, the first wavelength selective region capable of transmitting a first selected range of wavelengths from the first collimator to the second collimator, the first actuator capable of moving the first optical switch element between a first switch position and a second switch position, the first switch position optically coupling the first wavelength selective region between the first collimator and the second collimator, and the second switch position optically coupling an input signal from the input optical fiber section to the first broadband reflective region and to the first express optical fiber section;
and
a second three-port optical switch having
the first express optical fiber section optically coupled to a third collimator,
a second express optical fiber section optically coupled to the third collimator,
a second optical switch element movably disposed on a second actuator between the third collimator and
a fourth collimator, the fourth collimator being optically coupled to an add optical fiber section, the second optical switch element having a second wavelength selective region and a second broadband reflective region, the second wavelength selective region capable of transmitting a second selected range of wavelengths from the third collimator to the fourth collimator, the second actuator capable of moving the second optical switch element between a third switch position and a fourth switch position, the third switch position optically coupling the second wavelength selective region between the third collimator and the fourth collimator, and the fourth switch position optically coupling a signal from the first express optical fiber section to the second broadband reflective region and to the second express optical fiber section, wherein the first actuator is mechanically coupled to the second actuator and the first actuator and the second actuator are both moved in response to a switch signal.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wavelength selective optical switch

Life of this patent

Wavelength selective optical switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30