Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
385017000 | Matrix switch (i.e., M X N, where M and N are 3 or more) | 62 |
20080205819 | Passive Fiber Organizer for Mesh Network Node Interconnections - A mesh optical network node has switch cards which carry active components, such as wavelength routers to switch the paths of optical signals through the node and a fiber organizer handles the numerous optical fiber interconnections among the switch cards. The fiber organizer has no active components and can include optical paths to verify not only that a switch card connection to the fiber organizer has been made but that the connection is properly made. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205820 | DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURABLE MULTIPLE WAVELENGTH PHOTODETECTOR ARRAY FOR OPTICAL STORAGE APPLICATIONS - A dynamically configurable multiple wavelength adapted photodetector (PD) integrated circuit includes a PD array having a center bank of electrically isolated PD sections, and a first and a second side channel bank of electrically isolated PD sections on opposing sides of the center PD bank for receiving light and outputting electrical signals. A dynamically configurable switching matrix having a first plurality of inputs is coupled to outputs of the PD sections and a second plurality of inputs is provided for receiving control signals which select from a plurality of different switch configurations. The switch configurations set which of the PD sections are coupled to particular ones of a plurality of matrix outputs provided by the switching matrix. A structure providing switching matrix configuration information is coupled to the second plurality of inputs of the switching matrix to selects specific ones from the plurality of different switch configurations. An output block comprising a plurality of amplifiers is coupled to the plurality of matrix outputs for providing a plurality of amplified outputs, wherein dynamically adjustable combinations of electrical signals from the PD sections are directed to the plurality of amplifiers based on the switch configuration. The configuration selected effectively centers a location of an incident side beam at a center of the side channel PD banks independent of a wavelength (and resulting position) of the beam. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205821 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE OPTICAL SWITCH - A wavelength selective optical switch particularly usable as a programmable N×M optical switch in a multi-wavelength communication system. The switch uses a grating that separates multi-channel optical signals into a plurality of optical channels, and combines a plurality of optical channels into multi-channel optical signals. Programmable mirrors switch each optical channel to any of a plurality of fibers coupled to the switch. | 08-28-2008 |
20080226226 | Simplified Optical Switch - An optical switch to be mounted between first optical lines, each including one or more optical channels having a rank within their optical line, and second optical lines, each including one or more optical channels having a rank within their optical line. The switch includes a selection device with at least one selection element configured to select a single optical channel from a set of at least two optical channels of the first optical lines or the second optical lines, the optical channels of this set having the same rank, and a connection device configured to couple the selected optical channel to one of the channels of the second optical lines or the first optical lines respectively. Such a switch may find application to optical telecommunications. | 09-18-2008 |
20080292240 | Optical Switches - Optical switches are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary optical switch includes, but is not limited to, a first waveguide, a second waveguide across with the first waveguide in an angle to form an intersection, and a pair of electrodes placed within a proximity of the intersection to switch a light traveling from the first waveguide to the second waveguide, where the intersection includes a geometry that supports single and multimode propagation. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 11-27-2008 |
20090028499 | Optical Switch Matrix - A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix is described herein. In one embodiment, exemplary routing within the optical switch matrix includes, but is not limited to, providing a plurality of switching nodes and a plurality of intermediate wavelengths. Furthermore, any one of a plurality of input waveguides is coupled with any one of a plurality of output waveguides, using one or more of the switching nodes and the intermediate waveguides. In addition, a switching node couples the respective input waveguide and the respective output waveguide. The switching node includes a first switch coupling the respective input waveguide to an intermediate waveguide and a second switch coupling the intermediate waveguide to the respective output waveguide. The second switch is an X switch having a first and second input ports and a first and second output ports, the first input port receiving the intermediate waveguide and the first output port coupling to the respective output waveguide | 01-29-2009 |
20090028500 | SIGNAL INTERCONNECT INCORPORATING MULTIPLE MODULAR UNITS - An interconnect element incorporates a plurality of smaller, substantially identical, interconnect modules. Multiple identical elements can in turn be combined to form larger interconnect networks. Signal paths in the elements can be implemented with optical fibers or electrical conductors. | 01-29-2009 |
20090067780 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH - In a wavelength selective switch according to the present invention, an isolator is disposed between a lens array and a first lens. The isolator includes an isolator element and a transmitting means. The isolator is disposed so that the isolator element is on light paths of input lights and that the transmitting element is on a light path of an output light. The isolator element is shared among the light paths of the plurality of input lights. The isolator element intercepts lights propagating in an opposite direction to the input lights and prevents coupling of the lights to input ports. The transmitting element transmits the output light and couples it to an output port. | 03-12-2009 |
20090097797 | METHODS TO RECONFIGURE ALL-FIBER OPTICAL CROSS-CONNECTS - This invention discloses methods to reconfigure highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices comprised of large numbers of densely packed fiber strands suspended within a common volume. In particular, methods enabling programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) are provided, whereby a two-dimensional input array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array. A particular algorithmic implementation for a system reconfigured by a three-axis robotic gripper as well as lateral translation of each row in the input port array is disclosed. | 04-16-2009 |
20090110349 | Beam steering element and associated methods for mixed manifold fiberoptic switches - An optical system comprising two or more mixed optical switches co-packaged together, each set configured either with N input fiber ports and 1 output fiber port (N×1 optical switch) or with 1 input fiber port and N output fiber ports (1×N optical switch), wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths from the input fiber ports to an output fiber port of the same set, and wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to select and switch selected wavelengths between input and output ports belonging to another set; and wherein output fiber ports from one set can be coupled to input ports of other sets, thus, enabling a cost effective, high level of integration one or more N×M co-packaged optical switching system. | 04-30-2009 |
20090123114 | Offset launch mode from nanotaper waveguide into multimode fiber - One or more nanotaper coupling waveguides formed within an optical substrate allows for straightforward, reproducible offset launch conditions to be achieved between an incoming signal and the core region of a multimode fiber (which may be disposed along an alignment fixture formed in the optical substrate), fiber array or other multimode waveguiding structure. Offset launching of a single mode signal into a multimode fiber couples the signal into favorable spatial modes which reduce the presence of differential mode dispersion along the fiber. This approach to providing single mode signal coupling into legacy multimode fiber is considered to be an improvement over the prior art which required the use of an interface element between a single mode fiber and multimode fiber, limiting the number of propagating signals and applications for the legacy multimode fiber. An optical switch may be used to select the specific nanotaper(s) for coupling into the multimode fiber. | 05-14-2009 |
20090190881 | Parallel Optical Connector - A connector for establishing a connection for use in a optical communications network, the connector comprising a plurality of optical elements, said optical elements being VCSELs, photodetectors or optical fibers, said optical elements being arranged in two or more arrays so that at least one of the arrays is moveable to ensure alignment of the members of that array when the connection is established. | 07-30-2009 |
20090196549 | MODULAR ALL-OPTICAL CROSS-CONNECT - An all-optical, optical cross-connect includes first and second pluralities of multiport optical devices. Each of the first plurality of multiport optical devices have at least one input port for receiving a WDM optical signal and a plurality of output ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. Each of the second plurality of multiport optical devices have a plurality of input ports for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal and at least one output port for selectively receiving one of more wavelength components of the optical signal. At least one of the first or second plurality of multiport optical devices are all-optical switches that can route every wavelength component independently of every other wavelength component. The plurality of input ports of the second plurality of multiport optical devices are optically coupled to respective ones of the plurality of output ports of the first plurality of multiport optical devices. | 08-06-2009 |
20090214160 | Optical Crossbar Switch - An optical crossbar switch for optically coupling optic fibers comprising: at least one first fiber ( | 08-27-2009 |
20090310910 | OPTICAL SWITCHES - Optical switches are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary optical switch includes, but is not limited to, a first waveguide, a second waveguide across with the first waveguide in an angle to form an intersection, and a pair of electrodes placed within a proximity of the intersection to switch a light traveling from the first waveguide to the second waveguide, where the intersection includes a geometry that supports single and multimode propagation. The intersection includes a geometry having a ridge width ranging approximately from 2.6 μm to 19.2 μm and a ridge height ranging approximately from 4 μm to 16 μm. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. | 12-17-2009 |
20100008623 | OPTICAL CROSSBAR SWITCH - An optical crossbar switch for optically coupling optic fibers comprising: at least one first fiber ( | 01-14-2010 |
20100046884 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASYMMETRICAL FIBER SPACING FOR WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCHES - A system and method of asymmetrical fiber or waveguide spacing comprising, in general, an asymmetrical fiber concentrator array (FCA), wherein an offset in the front face spacing of the output waveguides relative to the input waveguides functions to reduce or eliminate the introduction of static back reflection, and static in-to-in crosstalk into a fiber by an optical switch, but does not impose the cost, complexity, and insertion loss penalties brought about by additional components. | 02-25-2010 |
20100074577 | Hybrid optical switch apparatus - The invention relates to a hybrid optical switch, which is composed of a silicon micro-mirror-array and a mini-actuator array mainly. The invention which combines microelectromechanical systems technology and traditional precision machining technology, possesses the advantages of low cost, high accuracy, high fabrication yield, low actuation voltage, low power consumption, self-aligned micro-mirrors, and easy fiber alignment. | 03-25-2010 |
20100092129 | Fiber Optic Network Architecture Having Optical Connection Terminals in Series Arrangement - A fiber optic network having a branch cable with a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to a distribution cable, and first and second optical connection terminals connected in series is disclosed. The first optical connection terminal is adapted to receive a first segment of the branch cable. The first optical connection terminal is configured such that predetermined ones of a first plurality of ports comprise one or more of a first drop port and a first pass-through port. The first drop port is operable for optically coupling a first respective predetermined one of the plurality of optical fibers to a first drop cable. The first pass-through port is operable for optically coupling a second respective predetermined one of the plurality of optical fibers to a second segment of the branch cable extending externally from the first optical connection terminal. The second optical connection terminal is adapted to receive the second segment of the branch cable. The second optical connection terminal is configured such that a predetermined one of a second plurality of ports comprises a second drop port operable for optically coupling the second respective predetermined one of the plurality of optical fibers to a second drop cable. | 04-15-2010 |
20100220953 | Braided Fiber Optic Cross-Connect Switches - This invention discloses a highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch comprised of large numbers of densely packed fiber strands suspended within a common volume. In particular, apparatus and methods enabling programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) having structured and coherent braid representations are provided. | 09-02-2010 |
20100254652 | Optical Network for Cluster Computing - Leaf switches and spine switches in a Clos network are interconnected by optical fibers. The network enables large numbers of servers or other apparatus to communicate with each other with minimal delay and minimal power consumption. | 10-07-2010 |
20110116740 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE HAVING DIGITAL OPTICAL SWITCHES - Provided is an optical communication device including optical switches. The optical communication device a first multi-mode core disposed on a substrate, the first multi-mode core extending in a first direction and second multi-mode cores disposed on a substrate, the second multi-mode cores parallelly extending in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction to intersect the first multi-mode core. The heaters respectively intersect intersectional regions between the first and second multi-mode cores. | 05-19-2011 |
20110206317 | Optical fiber switch with movable lens - A scalable optical switch especially useful for switching multimode beams carried by optical fibers. Light from an input fiber is focused by a lens which is moved in an x-y direction perpendicular to the beam direction in order to switch the beam from one output fiber to a different fiber. In preferred embodiments the beam can be directed to any one of as many as 90 output fibers. Techniques for scaling the switch to produce N×N switches with N being large are described. Embodiments of the present invention can also be utilized to create more elaborate fiber optical switches such as an N×N switch and a N | 08-25-2011 |
20110222817 | Compact Multiplexer/Demultiplexer - The present invention relates to a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a connection for inputting and/or outputting an optical signal which has signal components of different wavelengths, a carrier plate ( | 09-15-2011 |
20120002917 | M X N WSS WITH REDUCED OPTICS SIZE - A M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS) module capable of independently routing any wavelength channel from any input port to any output port is provided. The M×N WSS includes a first beam relayer including first and second elements having optical power, each of which is disposed such that light transmitted to or from a first plurality of ports passes through a common point. The M×N WSS also includes a wavelength dispersive element, a first switching array having M rows including K switching elements, a second beam relayer, and a second switching array including N switching elements. The second switching array includes an optical by-pass disposed at the common point, which provides means for separating the input and output beams of light, and which allows both the input and output optical beams to traverse similar paths throughout the optical train. | 01-05-2012 |
20120020614 | OPTICAL SWITCH DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Provided are an optical switch device having a simple light path and capable of achieving high speed switching, and a method of manufacturing the optical switch device. The optical switch device comprises one or more first optical waveguides extending in a first direction, one or more second optical waveguides connected to the first optical waveguides in a second direction crossing the first direction, and one or more switching parts configured to control light transmitted in the first direction within the first optical waveguide connected with the second waveguide, to selectively reflect the light to the second waveguide extending in the second direction. | 01-26-2012 |
20120207429 | N X M MONOLITHIC SWITCH FOR AN OPTICAL NETWORK AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - An N×M monolithic switch and a method of operating the switch. In one embodiment, the switch includes: (1) a monolithic refractive element, (2) N input/output ports coupled to the monolithic refractive element and configured to inject electromagnetic energy into a first set of planes in the monolithic refractive element at an angle that causes total internal reflection of the electromagnetic energy between first and second refractive surfaces of the monolithic refractive element, N being greater than one, (3) M input/output ports coupled to the monolithic refractive element and configured to extract electromagnetic energy travelling in a second set of planes in the monolithic refractive element, M being greater than one, the second set of planes being aparallel to the first set of planes and (4) a plurality of frustrating elements coupled to the monolithic refractive element and corresponding to the N input/output ports and the M input/output ports and configured to frustrate the total internal reflection selectively to cause the electromagnetic energy to travel from ones of the first set of planes to ones of the second set of planes. | 08-16-2012 |
20120243826 | LOW POWER COMPACT OPTICAL SWITCH - The invention relates to optical waveguide switches wherein input light propagating in an input waveguide may be switched between two output waveguides by means of a carrier-induced total internal reflection. The switches utilizes a double-reflection, or, generally, a multiple-reflection electrode to reduce the light deflection angle at each reflection interface, thereby enabling to increase the light switching angle and/or decrease the power consumption of the switch. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251042 | Adaptive Waveguide Optical Switching System and Method - Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for optical interconnection using a combination of an arrayed waveguide grating router (AWGr) and optical crossbar. Optical wavelengths can be flexibly routed from an input port to one or more output ports. Scaling of the system is easily accommodated. | 10-04-2012 |
20120263413 | WAVEGUIDE TYPE HIGH DENSITY OPTICAL MATRIX SWITCHES - An optical matrix switch includes connection optical waveguides, a 2×2 optical switch including two straight optical waveguides which are parallel to each other, two crossing optical waveguides which connects the insides of the straight optical waveguides and mutually intersects in an X shape, and electrodes which are disposed on portions where the straight optical waveguide and the crossing optical waveguide are connected. The connection optical waveguides include a straight connection optical waveguide which connects one of the straight optical waveguides of one of the 2×2 optical switches in one column and a straight optical waveguide of a 2×2 optical switch in the same row of an adjacent column, and a crossing connection optical waveguide which connects the other of the straight optical waveguides with a straight optical waveguide of 2×2 optical switch in the other row of an adjacent column | 10-18-2012 |
20120275744 | PORT ARRAY TOPOLOGY FOR HIGH PORT COUNT WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH - An optical apparatus can include an optical port array having an M×N array of fiber collimator ports. The array of ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports located between two rows of ports. The gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of ports to an opposite side. | 11-01-2012 |
20130022310 | Bistable Element - A bistable element ( | 01-24-2013 |
20130028556 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE INPUT/OUTPUT PORTS - A multi-port wavelength selective switch includes a one dimensional array of input and output ports. The multi-port wavelength selective switch further includes a wavelength dispersive element configured to receive input optical signals from the input ports, and to disperse wavelength components thereof. Additionally, the multi-port wavelength selective switch includes an array of beam steering devices. Each beam steering device is controllable to a position at which the beam steering device directs a wavelength component of an input optical signal received through a first input port to an output port and directs the same wavelength component of an input optical signal received through a second input port away from all of the output ports. | 01-31-2013 |
20130094804 | OPTICAL SWITCH - An apparatus, comprising an optical switch having N | 04-18-2013 |
20130108214 | SILICON OPTICAL LINE MULTIPLEXER DEVICES | 05-02-2013 |
20130108215 | SCALABLE OPTICAL SWITCHES AND SWITCHING MODULES | 05-02-2013 |
20130121636 | OPTICAL NODE CONFIGURATION APPARATUS - A segmented optical node exploits a configuration module having arrayed all elements to go from a 1×4 to a 4×4 configuration, save optional redundant switches. A jumper board in the 1×, 2× path configures the node for 1×4 in one orientation and for 2×4 when flipped around 180 degrees. The 4×4 configuration is achieved by rotating the configuration module 90 degrees. In this orientation power to the module is also off, since the 4× configuration is passive. | 05-16-2013 |
20130209030 | OPTICAL SWITCH HAVING A MULTIROW WAVEGUIDE ARRAY - An optical switch platform allowing dual and/or multicast optical switch geometries is disclosed. Only two waveguide arrays are used, one for the input, and one for the output. Multi-row waveguide array(s) can replace individual multiple single-row waveguide arrays for optical switch configurations employing a beam director configured to dispose a plurality of input optical beams in a multi-row pattern of optical beams at an angle-to-offset (ATO) optical element. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209031 | MULTICAST OPTICAL SWITCH - A multicast optical switch uses a diffractive bulk optical element, which splits at least one input optical beam into sub-beams, which freely propagate in a medium towards an array of directors, such as MEMS switches, for directing the sub-beams to output ports. Freely propagating optical beams can cross each other without introducing mutual optical loss. The amount of crosstalk is limited by scattering in the optical medium, which can be made virtually non-existent. Therefore, the number of the crossover connections, and consequently the number of inputs and outputs of a multicast optical switch, can be increased substantially without a loss or a crosstalk penalty. | 08-15-2013 |
20130272650 | WAVELENGTH CROSS CONNECT DEVICE - A wavelength cross connect device includes an input demultiplexing optical system for demultiplexing light input from a plurality of input ports into respective wavelengths, a wavelength switching optical system for switching and outputting the lights of respective wavelengths input from the input demultiplexing optical system to respective desired ports, and an output multiplexing optical system for multiplexing the lights of respective wavelengths input from the wavelength switching optical system per port. The input demultiplexing optical system and the output multiplexing optical system includes a lens system that has a function of focusing lights independently in vertical and widthwise directions. The wavelength switching optical system includes two light deflector arrays for outputting incoming light of each wavelength after adjusting a horizontal reflection angle of the light, and a switching lens including a lens that has a focal length equal to the Rayleigh length and acts only in a widthwise direction. | 10-17-2013 |
20130287336 | OPTICAL SWITCH - An apparatus comprises a given multimode optical waveguide extending in a given direction. The apparatus also comprises another multimode optical waveguide extending in another direction and intersecting with the given multimode waveguide. The apparatus further comprises a bi-stable optical switch positioned at the intersection of the given multimode optical waveguide and the another multimode optical waveguide to redirect a multimode optical signal transmitted on the given multimode optical waveguide to the another optical waveguide in a redirection state and pass the multimode optical signal transmitted on the given multimode optical waveguide across the intersection of the given multimode optical waveguide and the another optical waveguide in a pass-through state. The bi-stable optical switch can comprise a gap extending diagonally from a given corner of the intersection of the given and the another optical multimode waveguides to an opposing corner of the intersection. | 10-31-2013 |
20130294723 | Methods to Reconfigure All-Fiber Optical Cross-Connects - This invention discloses methods to reconfigure highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices comprised of large numbers of densely packed fiber strands suspended within a common volume. In particular, methods enabling programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) are provided, whereby a two-dimensional input array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array. A particular algorithmic implementation for a system reconfigured by a three-axis robotic gripper as well as lateral translation of each row in the input port array is disclosed. | 11-07-2013 |
20130322815 | WAVEGUIDE TYPE OPTICAL SWITCH - A waveguide type optical switch that can reduce the number of intersections in a matrix optical switch having the configuration of connecting unit optical switches and optical combining devices or optical branching devices to have a connecting function from “multiple inputs to one output” to “one input to multiple outputs”. To reduce the number of intersections in an entire matrix optical switch, an optical combining device of M inputs and one output is divided into (M−1) pieces of unit optical combining elements each having two inputs and one output, which are arranged immediately after (N−1) pieces of respective output ports excluding one piece of the output port closer to the input in the matrix optical switch out of N pieces of the output ports in the optical switch of one input and N outputs. | 12-05-2013 |
20140023316 | WSS WITH HIGH PORT ISOLATION AND CLOSE SPACED PORTS - By steering wanted diffraction orders within a concentrated angular region and steering all unwanted diffraction orders outside that region, a wavelength selective switch achieves high port isolation and densely spaced ports. N inputs receive an optical signal. Optics spatially separate and direct wavelength channels from the signal. A phased array switching engine comprising cells steers a wanted diffraction order of each spatially separated wavelength channel from each cell at an angle within a concentrated angular region relative to the PASE, and steers all unwanted diffraction orders of spatially separated wavelength channels from cells outside the concentrated angular region. Optics direct each wanted diffraction order to one of N outputs in accordance with the steering of the wanted diffraction orders by the PASE. The concentrated angular region is defined by a largest and smallest steering angle wherein the largest steering angle is a margin less than the smallest steering angle. | 01-23-2014 |
20140169733 | OPTICAL MODULE - An optical module includes a first switch card ( | 06-19-2014 |
20140254982 | Multicast Optical Switch - Described herein is an optical switch ( | 09-11-2014 |
20140294344 | COMPACT MULTICAST SWITCHES, MXN SWITCHES AND MXN SPLITTERS - New architectures for multicast switches, and other optical switches and splitters, that have substantially reduced insertion loss, crosstalk and better overall optical performance in comparison to existing optical switches and splitters. Optimized waveguide mesh layouts are used to substantially reduce the number of waveguide crossings, which reduces insertion loss. The reduction in the number of crossings also reduces the complexity of the mesh and provides better crossing angles to reduce crosstalk and other issues. Instead of crossing all of the waveguides connected between splitter outputs and switch inputs, the waveguides are crossed in sets of waveguides. | 10-02-2014 |
20140341504 | OPTICAL CROSS-CONNECT SWITCH WITH CONFIGURABLE OPTICAL INPUT/OUTPUT PORTS - An optical cross-connect switch having a fiber collimator array (FCA), a MEMS mirror array, and a folded 4F relay system. Each optical fiber in the FCA can work as an input fiber or an output fiber. The MEMS mirror array has individually tiltable mirrors, each mapped to a respective one of the optical fibers in the FCA. The folded 4F relay system is configured to image the FCA onto itself such that, for each input fiber, the tip of the fiber is imaged onto the tip of the intended output fiber. The MEMS mirror array can select the output fiber by (i) tilting the mirror mapped to the input fiber to cause light redirected by that mirror to impinge on the mirror mapped to the output fiber and (ii) tilting the mirror mapped to the output fiber to cause light redirected by that mirror to couple into the output fiber. | 11-20-2014 |
20150036971 | SCALABLE OPTICAL SWITCHES AND SWITCHING MODULES - Telecommunications switches are presented, including expandable optical switches that allow for a switch of N inputs×M outputs to be expanded arbitrarily to a new number of N inputs and/or a new number of M outputs. Switches having internal switch blocks controlling signal bypass lines are also provided, with these switches being useful for the expandable switches. | 02-05-2015 |
20150098678 | COMPOUND OPTICAL CIRCUIT SWITCH - A compound optical circuit switches and methods are disclosed. Two or more 1 | 04-09-2015 |
20150147027 | HYBRID WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH - An optical apparatus, comprising a wavelength selective switch, the wavelength selective switch including: one or more planar lightwave circuits and a plurality of optical beam steering assemblies. Each one of the planar lightwave circuits have at least one arrayed waveguide grating located thereon. | 05-28-2015 |
20150293307 | MULTICAST OPTICAL SWITCH - A multicast optical switch uses a diffractive bulk optical element, which splits at least one input optical beam into sub-beams, which freely propagate in a medium towards an array of directors, such as MEMS switches, for directing the sub-beams to output ports. Freely propagating optical beams can cross each other without introducing mutual optical loss. The amount of crosstalk is limited by scattering in the optical medium, which can be made virtually non-existent. Therefore, the number of the crossover connections, and consequently the number of inputs and outputs of a multicast optical switch, can be increased substantially without a loss or a crosstalk penalty. | 10-15-2015 |
20150309259 | Multiport Tunable Optical Filters - A tunable multiport optical filter includes various types of arrays of optical ports. The tunable filter also includes a light dispersion element (e.g., a grating) and a reflective beam steering element (e.g., a tilting mirror). An optical signal exits an optical (input) port, is dispersed by the light dispersion element, reflects off the reflective beam steering element back to the light dispersion element, and on to another optical (output) port. The reflective beam steering element can be steered such that a wavelength portion of the dispersed optical signal can be coupled to the optical output port. For example, the input optical signal may be a wavelength division multiplexed signal carrying multiple channels on different wavelengths, and the tunable multiport optical filter directs one of the channels to the output optical port. Additionally, the tunable filter may be incorporated into a device acting as a wavelength reference. | 10-29-2015 |
20150331198 | NxN Optical Switch - Described herein are various embodiments of a cross-connect type optical switch (E.g. 1) for switching optical beams between a plurality of optical fibers. Switch | 11-19-2015 |
20150331199 | Scalable and Modular Automated Fiber Optic Cross-Connect Systems - This invention discloses patch-panel systems for organized configuration management of large numbers of fiber optic interconnection strands, wherein each strand transmits high bandwidth signals between devices. In particular, a system for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fiber strands is provided, whereby strands connecting a two-dimensional array of connectors are mapped in an ordered and rule based fashion into a one-dimensional array with substantially straight lines strands there between. The braid of fiber optic strands is partitioned into multiple independent, non-interfering zones or subbraids. The separation into subbraids provides spatial clearance for one or more robotic grippers to enter the free volume substantially adjacent to the two-dimensional array of connectors and to mechanically reconfigure one or more optical fiber strands without interrupting or entangling other fiber optic strands. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331200 | SWITCHING PATCH CORD FIBERS - Provided herein are switching methods and systems for switching a patch cord fiber in a fiber management system having non-tensioned patch cord fibers, from a first adapter to a second adapter. Switching comprises disconnecting the patch cord fiber connector from the first adapter; distinguishing the disconnected patch cord fiber, at a region removed from the connector, from other patch cord fibers according to a position of the patch cord fiber in the fiber management system; pulling the distinguished patch cord fiber at the handling region to receive and clasp the disconnected connector, wherein the pulling is carried out to disentangle the pulled patch cord fiber from the other patch cord fibers; and connecting the clasped connector to the second adapter. The patch cord fibers are thus manages at edges thereof only, with no slack control required. | 11-19-2015 |
20160025930 | SWITCH APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is to provide a switch unit for optical signals which is capable of reducing an area required for arrangement and reducing manufacturing costs, and a switch apparatus including the switch unit. A switch unit | 01-28-2016 |
20160139340 | MEMS FIBER OPTICAL SWITCH - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for optical switching. One of the optical switches includes a plurality of optical fibers positioned in an array, the plurality of fibers including one or more input fibers and a plurality of output fibers; a microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirror configured to controllably reflect light from an input fiber to a particular target output fiber of the plurality of output fibers, wherein a position of the MEMS mirror is controllable to switch from a first target output fiber to a second target output fiber of the plurality of output fibers, and wherein the position of the MEMS mirror is controlled using a vertically staggered comb drive. | 05-19-2016 |
20160154183 | MEMS OPTICAL SWITCH | 06-02-2016 |
20160187587 | OPTICAL INTERFACE WITH TRAFFIC PROTECTION USING MULTI-OPTICAL PATH PHOTONIC SWITCH - An optical path system includes a first rectangular block that further includes multiple first fiber optic guides, arranged in a first configuration, into which are placed multiple first optical fibers, one fiber in each guide. The optical path system further includes a second rectangular block comprising multiple second fiber optic guides, arranged in a second configuration, into which are placed multiple second optical fibers, one fiber in each guide, wherein a first face of the second rectangular block abuts a first face of the first rectangular block and wherein the first block is movable relative to the second block. The optical path system also includes micro-position adjusting mechanisms configured to move the first block relative to the second block to align the multiple first optical fibers with the multiple second optical fibers. | 06-30-2016 |
20160202424 | HIGH RELIABILITY ROBOTIC CROSS-CONNECT SYSTEMS | 07-14-2016 |
20170235058 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM OPTICAL SWITCH AND SWITCHING NODE | 08-17-2017 |