Title :
MEMS technology for optical networking applications
Author :
Neukermans, Armand ; Ramaswami, Rajiv
Author_Institution :
Nortel Networks
fDate :
1/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The explosion of the Internet has brought about an acute need for broadband communications, which can only be filled with optical networking. This in turn has resulted in an unprecedented interest in optical micro-electromechanical systems. Since the early days of fiber optics, it has been recognized that micro-optics was a fertile ground for the applications of MEMS. MEMS-based products offer substantial cost and performance advantages for optical networking applications in the area of switching fabrics, variable attenuators, tunable lasers, and other devices. This article provides a review of various types of MEMS technologies for optical networking applications
Keywords :
attenuators; micromechanical devices; optical communication equipment; optical fabrication; optical fibre networks; optical switches; semiconductor lasers; semiconductor switches; Internet; MEMS technology; MEMS-based products; broadband communications; fiber optics; micro-optics; optical micro-electromechanical systems; optical networking applications; switching fabrics; tunable lasers; variable attenuators; Broadband communication; Costs; Explosions; IP networks; Microelectromechanical systems; Micromechanical devices; Optical attenuators; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical fibers;
Journal_Title :
Communications Magazine, IEEE
