Waveguide grating-based wavelength selective switch actuated by micro-electromechanical system

Abstract

The present invention is a wavelength-selective optical switching system. The switching system includes an input waveguide designated as waveguide WG() for receiving a multiplexed optical signal comprising optical signals transmitted over a plurality of wavelength channels represented by λ, λ, λ, , λ, where N is a positive integer wherein the input waveguide extending over a first direction. The switching system further includes a two dimensional waveguide array comprising a plurality of first direction waveguides WG(i), i=1, 2, 3, , M extending over the first direction substantially parallel to the input waveguide WG() where M is a positive integer and a plurality of second direction waveguides WG'(j), j=1, 2, 3, N, extending over a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the input waveguide and each of the first direction waveguide WG(i), i=0, 1, 2, 3, ,M, thus forming (M+1)×N intersections. The switching system further includes a plurality of wavelength selective grating-based switches SW(i, j) where i=0, 1, 2, 3, , M and j=1, 2, 3, , N, each disposed on one of the (M+1)×N intersections for selectively transmitting an optical signal of wavelength λj into a waveguide WG′(j) and for selectively transmitting an optical signal of a predefined combination of wavelengths into at least one of the waveguide WG(i) for i=1, 2, 3, M.