Microoptical fiber switch for a large number of interconnects: optical design considerations and experimental realizations using microlens arrays

The authors investigate a 1 /spl times/ N free-space microoptical fiber switch for a large number of interconnects. The system to be studied is a reflective 4f optical system. Alignment tolerances and coupling efficiency are investigated and the benefit brought by collimating microlens arrays is rep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics 2002-01, Vol.8 (1), p.46-57
Main Authors: Peter, Y.-A., Herzig, H.P., Dandliker, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arrays
Joining
Lenses
Microlenses
Microoptics
Noise levels
Optical design
Optical fibers
Optical interconnections
Optical receivers
Optical refraction
Optical switches
Optical switching
Optical variables control
Power system interconnection
Switches
Tolerances
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Summary:The authors investigate a 1 /spl times/ N free-space microoptical fiber switch for a large number of interconnects. The system to be studied is a reflective 4f optical system. Alignment tolerances and coupling efficiency are investigated and the benefit brought by collimating microlens arrays is reported (theoretically and experimentally). The use of microlenses enables power coupling efficiency between 3 and 2 dB (including losses due to the optical elements) for an optical switch allowing up to 3000 receiver fibers.
ISSN:1077-260X
1558-4542
DOI:10.1109/2944.991398