Reconfigurable photonic switch based on a binary system using the White cell and micromirror arrays

Author

Argueta-Diaz, Victor ; Anderson, Betty Lise

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH, USA

Volume

9

Issue

2

fYear

2003

Firstpage

594

Lastpage

602

Abstract

We describe an N×N optical switch for use in cross-connects. It is a free-space device, based on multiple bounces in a pair of White cells sharing a spatial light modulator at one end. In a companion paper, we described various polynomial cells, in which the number of outputs was proportional to the number of bounces raised to some power. In the binary device described here, the number of possible outputs is proportional to the number two raised to the power of the number of bounces. It allows a 1024 × 1024 switch using a single digital two-state tip/tilt micromirror array, four spherical mirrors, and a spot displacement device. It is highly scalable and insensitive to micromirror pointing accuracy.

Keywords

micromirrors; microswitches; optical arrays; optical interconnections; photonic switching systems; spatial light modulators; 1024 × 1024 switch; N×N optical switch; White cell; binary device; binary system; cross-connects; free-space device; micromirror arrays; micromirror pointing accuracy insensitivity; multiple bounces; optical interconnects; reconfigurable photonic switch; single digital two-state tip/tilt micromirror array; spatial light modulator; spherical mirrors; spot displacement device; Communication switching; Microelectromechanical devices; Micromechanical devices; Micromirrors; Mirrors; Optical arrays; Optical fiber devices; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Telecommunication switching;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2003.813305

Filename

1239026