N x M optical wavelength routing switch

Details N x M optical wavelength routing switch N x M optical wavelength routing switch

1998-03-10

2000-08-01

Negash, Kinfe-Michael

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

Using a periodically moving element

359122, H04J 1402

Patent

active

060975180

ABSTRACT:
A switchable wavelength router switches wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals between N input ports and M output ports. Each WDM signal is spatially decomposed into N pairs of orthogonally polarized beams by a polarization-dependent routing element, such as a birefringent element. A polarization rotator array rotates the polarization of each beam pair so that both beams in each pair have the same polarization. A wavelength filter then demultiplexes each beam pair to create N sets of four beams, such that the first beam in each pair decomposes into third and fourth orthogonally-polarized beams, and the second beam in each pair decomposes into fifth and sixth orthogonally-polarized beams. The third and fifth beams carry a first spectral band at a first polarization, and the fourth and sixth beams carry a second complementary spectral band at an orthogonal polarization. A second polarization-dependent routing element spatially routes the four beams in each of the N sets based on their polarizations, and also spatially combines selected beam pairs from different sets to produce M pairs of beams. A second polarization rotator array restores each beam pair to orthogonal polarization, and a final polarization-dependent routing element recombines each beam pair to produce M output beams at the output ports.

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