Optical switching using light bullets
AssigneeBrian R. Coleman
InventorBrian R. Coleman
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for optical switching using light bullets is presented. In one embodiment, the invention is a switch. The switch is a multi-channel, optical switch to use light bullets as optical pulses. The switch includes a waveguide of a first material. The switch also includes a plurality of channels extending from the waveguide. Each channel of the plurality of channels is to provide an optical path suitable for transmission of the light bullets. Each channel is formed of a material other than the first material. A first subset of the light bullets are to propagate into a predetermined channel of the plurality of channels responsive to interaction with a second subset of the light bullets.
Claims11
A multi-channel, optical switch to use light bullets as optical pulses, the switch comprising:
- a waveguide of a first material;
- a plurality of channels extending from the waveguide, each channel of the plurality of channels to provide an optical path suitable for transmission of the light bullets, each channel formed of a material other than the first material;
- wherein a first subset of the light bullets are to propagate into a predetermined channel of the plurality of channels responsive to interaction with a second subset of the light bullets;
- a plurality of light source channels extending from the waveguide, each light source channel to provide an optical path suitable for transmission of light bullets;
- and
- a light source connected to the plurality of light source channels, the light source to provide the second subset of light bullets, and wherein the light source includes multiple sources of light, and one source of light is provided for each light source channel of the plurality of light source channels.
A method of switching optical data comprising:
- receiving a light bullet in a first optical channel, the first optical channel formed of a first material;
- injecting the light bullet into a waveguide, the waveguide formed of a second material different from the first material;
- generating a guiding light bullet from one of a plurality of light sources;
- injecting the guiding bullet into the waveguide
- directing the light bullet within the waveguide responsive to the guiding light bullet provided from one of a plurality of light sources;
- and
- receiving the light bullet in a predetermined second optical channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.