Granted Patent B2

US 7,088,882 · App. 10/493,109 · Granted Aug 8, 2006

Abstract

Claims (137)

1. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

in a first plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said first plurality of lenses;

in a second plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said second plurality of lenses;

wherein light entering any of said first plurality of optical ports or said second plurality of ports is switchable to any of the first plurality of optical ports and any of said second plurality of optical ports.

2. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 1 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

3. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 1 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group consisting of: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

4. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first dispersive element at least part of which is substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second dispersive element at least part of which is substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

in a first plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said first plurality of lenses;

in a second plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said second plurality of lenses;

wherein light entering any of said first plurality of optical ports or said second plurality of ports is switchable to any of the first plurality of optical ports and any of said second plurality of optical ports.

5. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 4 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

6. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 4 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group consisting of: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

7. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

in a first plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said first plurality of lenses;

in a second plurality of optical ports a respective optical port positioned to input light onto/receive light from each of said second plurality of lenses;

wherein light entering any of said first plurality of optical ports or said second plurality of ports is switchable to any of the first plurality of optical ports and any of said second plurality of optical ports.

8. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 7 wherein the transmissive switching elements are one of a liquid crystal beam steering element, an acousto-optic beam deflector, part of a solid state phase array, a controllable hologram, a periodically poled Lithium Niobate beam deflector.

9. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 7 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group consisting of: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

10. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

for each row of said first two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective first bulk optical element having optical power and having a fourth focal plane substantially coplanar with said first focal plane of said second plurality of lenses;

for each row of said second two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective second bulk optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with said second focal plane of said first plurality of lenses;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at a port of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the port in first array of optical ports in a same row as the port where the WDM signal entered and any of the second array of optical ports through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

11. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 10 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

12. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 10 wherein each bulk optical element is a lens or a curved mirror.

13. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 10 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group comprising: a diffraction grating, either reflection and transmission type, prisms.

14. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

a first bulk optical element having optical power and having a fourth focal plane substantially coplanar with said first focal plane of said second plurality of lenses;

a second optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with said second focal plane of said first plurality of lenses;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at a port of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the port in first array of optical ports in a same row as the port where the WDM signal entered and any of the second array of optical ports through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

15. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 14 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

16. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 14 wheren each bulk optical element is a lens or a curved mirror.

17. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 14 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group comprising: a diffraction grating, either reflection and transmission type, prisms.

18. An arrangement comprising:

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a first two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements on a plurality of waveguide substrates, with one waveguide dispersive element per optical port in said first two dimensional array of optical ports, the first two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements collectively having a first output plane;

for each row of said first two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective first bulk optical element having optical power and having a first focal plane substantially coplanar with said first output plane, and having a second focal plane;

a first array of switching elements substantially in the second focal plane, each switching element being adapted to switch in both a horizontal and vertical direction;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements on a plurality of waveguide substrates, with one waveguide dispersive element per optical port in said second two dimensional array of optical ports, the second two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements collectively having a second output plane;

for each row of said second two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective second bulk optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane and having a sixth focal plane substantially coplanar with the second output plane;

a second array of switching elements substantially in the fifth focal plane, each switching element being adapted to switch in both a horizontal and vertical direction;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at one of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the optical ports of the first array in a same row as the port through which the signal entered and any of the optical ports of the second array through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

20. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein each bulk optical element having optical power is a lens or a curved mirror.

21. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein the dispersive elements comprise arrayed waveguide gratings or Echelle gratings.

22. An arrangement comprising:

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a first two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements on a plurality of waveguide substrates, with one waveguide dispersive element per optical port in said first two dimensional array of optical ports, the first two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements collectively having a first output plane;

a first bulk optical element having optical power and having a first focal plane substantially coplanar with said first output plane, and having a second focal plane;

a first array of switching elements substantially in the second focal plane, each switching element being adapted to switch in both a horizontal and vertical direction;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements on a plurality of waveguide substrates, with one waveguide dispersive element per optical port in said second two dimensional array of optical ports, the second two dimensional array of waveguide dispersive elements collectively having a second output plane;

a second bulk optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with the second output plane;

a second array of switching elements substantially in the fifth focal plane, each switching element being adapted to switch in both a horizontal and vertical direction;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at one of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the optical ports of the first array in a same row as the port through which the signal entered and any of the optical ports of the second array through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

23. An arrangement according to claim 22 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

24. An arrangement according to claim 22 wherein each bulk optical element having optical power is a lens or a curved mirror.

25. An arrangement according to claim 22 wherein the dispersive elements comprise arrayed waveguide gratings or Echelle gratings.

26. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

for each row of said first two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective first bulk optical element having optical power and having a fourth focal plane substantially coplanar with said first focal plane of said second plurality of lenses;

for each row of said second two dimensional array of optical ports, a respective second bulk optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with said second focal plane of said first plurality of lenses;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at port of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the port in first array of optical ports in a same row as the port where the WDM signal entered and any of the second array of optical ports through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

27. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 26 wherein each bulk optical element is a lens or a curved mirror.

28. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 26 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group comprising: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

29. A wavelength cross connect comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of transmissive switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first two dimensional array of optical ports;

a second two dimensional array of optical ports;

a first bulk optical element having optical power and having a fourth focal plane substantially coplanar with said first focal plane of said second plurality of lenses;

a second optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with said second focal plane of said first plurality of lenses;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at port of said first array of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the port in first array of optical ports in a same row as the port where the WDM signal entered and any of the second array of optical ports through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

30. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 29 wherein each bulk optical element is a lens or a curved mirror.

31. A wavelength cross connect according to claim 29 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group comprising: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

32. An arrangement comprising:

a first plurality of lenses stacked vertically;

a second plurality of lenses stacked vertically, spaced from said first plurality of lenses, non-overlapping in vertical space with said first plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a first focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second plurality of dispersive elements, with one dispersive element substantially in a second focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the first array being substantially in a second focal plane of each of said first plurality of lenses;

a second array of switching elements controllable in two directions, the second array being substantially in a first focal plane of each of said second plurality of lenses;

a first plurality of two dimensional arrays of optical ports;

a second plurality of two dimensional arrays of optical ports;

for each two dimensional array of said first plurality of two dimensional arrays of optical ports, a respective first bulk optical element having optical power and having a fourth focal plane substantially coplanar with said first focal plane of said second plurality of lenses;

for each two dimensional array of said second plurality of two dimensional arrays of optical ports, a respective second bulk optical element having optical power and having a fifth focal plane substantially coplanar with said second focal plane of said first plurality of lenses;

wherein each wavelength channel of a WDM signal entering at one of said first plurality of arrays of optical ports is individually switchable to any of the first plurality of arrays of optical ports and any of the second plurality of arrays of optical ports through appropriate control of the array of switching elements.

33. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein the switching elements are MEMS switching elements.

34. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein the switching elements are transmissive.

35. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein each bulk optical element is selected from a group consisting of a lens, a curved mirror, an assembly of lenses and mirrors, and an assembly of lenses, mirrors and a curved mirror.

36. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein the second bulk optical element is selected from a group consisting of a lens, a curved mirror, an assembly of lenses and mirrors, and an assembly of lenses, mirrors and a curved mirror.

37. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein the dispersive element is selected from a group comprising: a diffraction grating, either reflection or transmission type, prisms.

Assignments (8)