Using fibers as shifting elements in optical interconnection devices based on the white cell

An apparatus for optically shifting signals comprising:

• an auxiliary mirror;
• a micro-electro-mechanical device;
• a shifting unit, said shifting unit comprising:
• a shifting entrance plane, said shifting entrance plane comprising at least one row of signal input positions, each said signal input position adapted to receive an optical beam from a source;
• a shifting exit plane, said shifting exit plane comprising a respective number of rows of signal output positions, each said signal output position adapted to output said optical beam;
• and
• wherein each said signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position, each said optical fiber being the same length as every other optical fiber in said shifting unit;
• and
• a first pair of spherical mirrors, each said spherical mirror of said first pair of spherical mirrors having a center of curvature, said first pair of spherical mirrors positioned such that the images of said center of curvature of each said spherical mirror lies between said auxiliary mirror and said micro-electro-mechanical device;
• and
• a second pair of spherical mirrors, each said spherical mirror of said second pair of spherical mirrors having a center of curvature, said second pair of spherical mirrors positioned such that the images of said center of curvature of each said spherical mirror lies between said micro-electro-mechanical device and said shifting unit, wherein said auxiliary mirror, said micro-electro-mechanical device, and said shifting entrance plane are mutually optical conjugates of one another.

An apparatus for optically shifting signals comprising:

• a micro-electro-mechanical device disposed in a first plane;
• an auxiliary mirror disposed in a second plane;
• a shifting unit disposed in a third plane, said shifting unit comprising:
• a shifting entrance plane, said shifting entrance plane comprising at least one row of signal input positions, each said signal input position adapted to receive an optical beam from a source;
• a shifting exit plane, said shifting exit plane comprising a respective number of rows of signal output positions, each said signal output position adapted to output said optical beam;
• and
• wherein each said signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position, each said optical fiber being the same length as every other optical fiber in said shifting unit;
• and
• a pair of lenses, said pair of lenses disposed between said shifting unit and said micro-electro-mechanical device, wherein said auxiliary mirror, said micro-electro-mechanical device, and said shifting entrance plane are mutually optical conjugates of one another.

A method for optically shifting a signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• modulating an input signal onto an optical beam;
• passing said optical beam through an apparatus for optically shifting signals, said apparatus comprising:
• an auxiliary mirror;
• a micro-electro-mechanical device;
• a shifting unit, said shifting unit comprising:
• a shifting entrance plane, said shifting entrance plane comprising at least one row of signal input positions, each said signal input position adapted to receive an optical beam from a source;
• a shifting exit plane, said shifting exit plane comprising a respective number of rows of signal output positions, each said signal output position adapted to output said optical beam;
• and
• wherein each said signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position, each said optical fiber being the same length as every other optical fiber in said shifting unit;
• and
• a first pair of spherical mirrors, each said spherical mirror of said first pair of spherical mirrors having a center of curvature, said first pair of spherical mirrors positioned such that the images of said center of curvature of each said spherical mirror lies between said auxiliary mirror and said micro-electro-mechanical device;
• and
• a second pair of spherical mirrors, each said spherical mirror of said second pair of spherical mirrors having a center of curvature, said second pair of spherical mirrors positioned such that the images of said, center of curvature of each said spherical mirror lies between said micro-electro-mechanical device and said shifting unit;
• and
• down-converting said optical beam to an output signal.

A method for optically shifting a signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• modulating an input signal onto an optical beam;
• passing an optical beam through an apparatus for optically shifting signals, said apparatus comprising:
• a micro-electro-mechanical device disposed in a first plane;
• an auxiliary mirror disposed in said first plane;
• a shifting unit disposed in a second plane, said shifting unit comprising:
• a shifting entrance plane, said shifting entrance plane comprising at least one row of signal input positions, each said signal input position adapted to receive an optical beam from a source;
• a shifting exit plane, said shifting exit plane comprising a respective number of rows of signal output positions, each said signal output position adapted to output said optical beam;
• and
• wherein each said signal input position of a given row is connected by an optical fiber to a corresponding signal output position, each said optical fiber being the same length as every other optical fiber in said shifting unit;
• and
• a pair of lenses, said pair of lenses disposed between said shifting unit and said micro-electro-mechanical device;
• and
• downconverting said optical beam to an output signal.