Movaz Networks, Inc.

John E Golub

David A Smith

Zhuoyu Bao

Harry Presley

Fariborz Farhan

An optical cross connect, especially a wavelength cross connect, using free-space optics, a diffraction grating, and a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) array of movable mirrors. A concentrator receives light from widely separated optical fibers and brings the beams together into a more closely spaced linear array. Free-space optics process all the beams. Front-end optics collimate the beams from the fibers and flatten their fields. The diffraction grating spectrally separates each beam into sub-beams. A long-focus lens focuses the sub-beams onto the 2-dimensional MEMS array. A fold mirror reflectively couples two such mirrors, whereby the switched signals propagate back through the same optics and are spectrally recombined onto the fibers. Other embodiments include white-color cross connects, multiple MEMS arrays, and parallel optics. Power dividers or wavelength interleavers can divide signals from the fibers, and multiple cross connects switch different wavelength groups.

Optical cross connect utilizing free space optics and an array of micro mirrors

A multi-wavelength or white-light optical switch including an array of mirrors tiltable about two axes, both to control the switching and to provide variable power transmission through the switch, both for optimization and for power equalization between wavelength channels in a multi-wavelength signal. The output power of a channel is monitored, thereby allowing feedback adjustment of the transmitted power. The mirrors are preferably formed in a micro electromechanics system array to be tiltable in orthogonal directions and having electrostatically controlled tilting by two pairs of electrodes beneath the mirrors. Input power of the separate channels may also be monitored.

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

John E Golub