Parallel detection of WDM packet addresses by using three-dimensional planar integrated optics

We propose a planar integrated optics to detect several hundreds Gb/s optical packet addresses in WDM switching networks. The planar optics which integrates all the optical components on a single glass block makes extension of signal connection-space from the two-dimensional (2-D) waveguide or one-dimensional (1-D) fiber space to three-dimensional (3-D) free-space inside the glass block. Therefore, we can increase detection speed and number of channels detected in parallel. Our analysis shows that the planar integrated optics can make parallel connections of several hundreds Gb/s address-bit signals to detectors with power nonuniformity of less than 6.4% and overall efficiency of 72.3%.