N × N optical switching array device and system
AssigneeRadiant Photonics, Inc.
InventorsBulang Li, Suning Tang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An N×N optical switching array device and system are disclosed. In one aspect, an optical switching device for communicating optical signals is provided. The device includes a plurality of optical inputs operable to communicate optical signals, a plurality of optical outputs optically coupled to the optical inputs and at least one thermo-optic array optically coupled to the plurality of optical inputs and the plurality of optical outputs. The device further includes an thermo-optical array operable to deflect an optical signal from one of the plurality of optical inputs to one of the plurality of optical outputs in response to a temperature differential.
Claims26
An optical switching device for communicating optical signals in a communications network comprising:
- a plurality of inputs optically coupled to at least one thermo-optic array;
- a plurality of outputs optically coupled to the thermo-optic array;
- the plurality of inputs and outputs operable to communicate at least one optical signal via the thermo-optic array;
- the thermo-optic array including a first prism having a first material with a first index of refraction and a second prism having a second material with a second index of refraction;
- and
- the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction operable to be modulated in response to a temperature differential.
An network communications system for communicating optical signals comprising:
- a communication medium operable to communicate the optical signals;
- a plurality of optical waveguides associated with the communications medium;
- a switching device operable to communicate the optical signals from an initiating point to a destination point, the switching device comprising:
- an input optically coupled to at least one of the plurality of optical waveguides;
- an output optically coupled to at least a first thermo-optic array;
- and
- the first thermo-optic array operable to deflect the optical signals from the initiating point to the destination point;
- the thermo-optic array including a first prism having a first material with a first index of refraction and a second prism having a second material with a second index of refraction;
- and
- the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction operable to be modulated in response to a temperature differential.
An optical switching device for communicating optical signals comprising:
- a plurality of optical inputs operable to communicate optical signals;
- a plurality of optical outputs operable to communicate optical signals;
- at least one thermo-optical array optically coupled to the plurality of optical inputs and the plurality of optical outputs;
- the thermo-optical array operable to selectively deflect an optical signal from one of the plurality of optical inputs to one of the plurality of optical outputs in response to a temperature differential and
- the thermo-optical array comprising an optical prism.
An optical switching structure for communicating optical signals comprising:
- a first cladding layer coupled to a substrate;
- an optical switching layer coupled to the cladding layer, the optical switching layer having a first and second material operable to form an array;
- a thermal element coupled to the optical switching layer, the thermal element operable to alter a temperature associated with the optical switching layer and
- the array comprising an optical prism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.