At&t Bell Laboratories

John V Camlet

George J Shevchuk

Donald David Shugard

Glenn D Bergland

Saul Joseph Einbinder

Robert C Pritchard

An apparatus and method are disclosed for implementing a polarization-independent optical switch wherein switchable communication signals are retained in the optical mode while being switched between optical links in an optical communication network. The polarization-independent optical switch comprises polarization-dependent components which are advantageously arranged to switch arbitrary polarized light waves. The polarization-independent optical switch is achieved by splitting incoming arbitrary polarized light waves into two paths, a light wave with a TE radiation component and a light wave with a TM radiation component. The light wave with the TE radiation component is converted to a light wave with a TM radiation component. Both light waves having the TM radiation component are then switched in a polarization-dependent photonic switch device. The arbitrary light waves are recovered from the optical switch by converting one of the switched light waves having the TM radiation component to a light wave having the TE radiation component. The light wave with this TE radiation component is combined with the remaining switched light wave having the TM radiation component in a polarization combiner. As the polarization of the input light waves vary, more or less of the light wave energy will pass through the first path of the optical switch or the second path of the optical switch. The total amount of light wave energy through the optical switch, however, will remain relative constant.

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Cranford, NJ, United States of America

John V Camlet