Cross-connect switch using 1D arrays of beam steering elements
View Patent ↗An optical cross-connect including two deflector arrays optically separated by an angle-to-offset (ATO) element, wherein each deflector array includes a plurality of deflectors aligned in an array direction, each deflector array having a switching direction substantially perpendicular to the corresponding array direction, the array direction of the two deflector arrays being substantially perpendicular. Beam shaping optics convert light transmitted towards the first deflector array to have an elliptical cross-section at the first deflector array, thus providing a relatively simple and compact optical cross-connect.
1. An optical cross-connect comprising:
a first deflector array, optically disposed between an input port array and an output port array, including a first plurality of individually controllable deflectors aligned in a first array direction,
each individually controllable deflector, of the first plurality of individually controllable deflectors, having a first switching direction substantially perpendicular to the first array direction;
a second deflector array, optically disposed between the first deflector array and the output port array, including a second plurality of individually controllable deflectors aligned in a second array direction,
each individually controllable deflector, of the second plurality of individually controllable deflectors, having a second switching direction substantially perpendicular to the second array direction;
first beam shaping optics, optically disposed between the input port array and the first deflector array, for shaping a beam of light, launched from an input port of the input port array, and providing a first elliptical beam spot at the first deflector array,
a major axis of the first elliptical beam spot being substantially parallel to the first switching direction; and
second beam shaping optics, optically disposed between the output port array and the second deflector array,
a major axis of a second elliptical beam spot at the second deflector array being substantially parallel to the second switching direction.
2. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , further comprising:
an angle-to-offset element, optically disposed between the first deflector array and the second deflector array, for directing the shaped beam of light from the first deflector array to the second deflector array and providing the second elliptical beam spot.
3. The optical cross-connect of claim 2 , wherein the first deflector array and the second deflector array are disposed substantially at a focal plane of the angle-to-offset element such that the angle-to-offset element directs the beam of light from the first deflector array to the second deflector array and provides the second elliptical beam spot.
4. The optical cross-connect of claim 2 , wherein the angle-to-offset element comprises at least one lens or mirror.
5. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein the first beam shaping optics and the second beam shaping optics include a cylindrical lens.
6. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein the first deflector array and the second deflector array include a liquid crystal phase element.
7. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein each individually controllable deflector, of the first plurality of individually controllable deflectors, is a 1D tilting MEMS micro-mirror having a shape that is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first array direction.
8. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein each individually controllable deflector, of the second plurality of individually controllable deflectors, is a 1D tilting MEMS micro-mirror having a shape that is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second array direction.
9. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein the input port array is parallel to the first deflector array and perpendicular to the output port array.
10. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein the input port array is optically coupled to an input optical fiber array.
11. The optical cross-connect of claim 1 , wherein the output port array is optically coupled to an output optical fiber array.
12. A method comprising:
shaping, by first beam shaping optics optically disposed between an input port array and a first deflector array, a beam of light, launched from an input port of the input port array;
providing, by first beam shaping optics, a first elliptical beam spot at the first deflector array;
deflecting, by the first deflector array optically disposed between an input port array and an output port array, the shaped beam of light,
the first deflector array including a first plurality of individually controllable deflectors aligned in a first array direction,
each individually controllable deflector, of the first plurality of individually controllable deflectors, having a first switching direction substantially perpendicular to the first array direction, and
a major axis of the first elliptical beam spot is substantially parallel to the first switching direction;
deflecting, by a second deflector array optically disposed between the first deflector array and the output port array, the deflected beam of light, thereby providing a twice deflected beam of light,
the second deflector array including a second plurality of individually controllable deflectors aligned in a second array direction,
each individually controllable deflector, of the second plurality of individually controllable deflectors, having a second switching direction substantially perpendicular to the second array direction, and
a major axis of a second elliptical beam spot at the second deflector array being substantially parallel to the second switching direction; and
shaping, by second beam shaping optics optically disposed between the output port array and the second deflector array, the twice deflected beam of light.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
directing, by an angle-to-offset element optically disposed between the first deflector array and the second deflector array, the deflected beam of light from the first deflector array to the second deflector array; and
providing, by the angle-to-offset element, the second elliptical beam spot.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first deflector array and the second deflector array are disposed substantially at a focal plane of the angle-to-offset element such that the angle-to-offset element directs the beam of light from the first deflector array to the second deflector array and provides the second elliptical beam spot on the second deflector array.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the angle-to-offset element comprises at least one lens or mirror.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of:
the first beam shaping optics and the second beam shaping optics include a cylindrical lens, or
wherein the first deflector array and the second deflector array include a liquid crystal phase element.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individually controllable deflector, of the first plurality of individually controllable deflectors, is a 1D tilting MEMS micro-mirror having a shape that is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first array direction.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individually controllable deflector, of the second plurality of individually controllable deflectors, is a 1D tilting MEMS micro-mirror having a shape that is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second array direction.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the input port array is parallel to the first deflector array and perpendicular to the output port array.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of:
the input port array is optically coupled to an input optical fiber array, or
the output port array is optically coupled to an output optical fiber array.