Fault-tolerant fiber-optical multiwavelength processor

Abstract

Multi-wavelength fiber-optic processors based on a fault-tolerant scheme using a macro-pixel to control an optical beam are described. The macro-pixel system uses multiple device pixels per beam to provide a robust digital technique for amplitude control and routing, enabling a module with high optical beam alignment tolerance and resistance to catastropic failure. In one embodiment, the macropixel is implemented via small tilt micromirrors fabricated via optical microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The system includes fault tolerant fiber-optic processors that can implement add-drop wavelength routing, optical power level conditioning per wavelength, 2×2 optical crossconnects, and 1×N and M×N type broadcast-gain controlled switches. The system can simultaneously and independently implement optical power conditioning and wavelength routing for any wavelength channel. An optical signal processor is constructed using a fiber lens collimator, optical fibers butt-coupled to the fiber lens, and an optical MEMS-based macro-pixel device with three independently controllable tilt mirror states. Multiple processors can be interconnected to realize a crossconnect subsystem of multiple attenuators and switches that can be applied to N-wavelength multiplexed fiber-optic networks or to form broadcast 1×N and M×N optical switches with independent gain controls.