Free-space micromachined optical switches with submillisecond switching time for large-scale optical crossconnects

Optical crossconnects with large port counts are fast becoming critical components for high-capacity optical transport networks. The free-space micromachined optical switches (FS-MOS) demonstrated in this letter represent a means of filling this network need by combining the advantages of free-space...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE photonics technology letters 1998-04, Vol.10 (4), p.525-527
Main Authors: Lin, L.Y., Goldstein, E.L., Tkach, R.W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Extinction ratio
Filling
Integrated optics
Loss measurement
Micromirrors
Optical crosstalk
Optical devices
Optical fiber networks
Optical interconnections
Optical switches
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Summary:Optical crossconnects with large port counts are fast becoming critical components for high-capacity optical transport networks. The free-space micromachined optical switches (FS-MOS) demonstrated in this letter represent a means of filling this network need by combining the advantages of free-space interconnection with the virtues of integrated optics. Featuring free-rotating hinged micromirrors, the switch overcomes the common drawback of mechanical-type switches, namely long switching time. Measurements have revealed switching times less than 700 μs, crosstalk less than -60 dB, extinction ratio greater than 60 dB, negligible polarization-dependent loss, and excellent bit-error-rate (BER) performance.
ISSN:1041-1135
1941-0174
DOI:10.1109/68.662582