| 摘要 |
A free-space MCS may include an input port to launch a beam of light, N output ports, a beam splitter to split the beam of light into N portions, and a deflector array including N deflectors aligned in an array direction. Each deflector may have an active region with a size in the array direction that matches a size in the array direction of a portion, of the N portions, incident thereon. The free-space MCS may include first beam shaping optics to form a first elliptical beam spot at the beam splitter with a major axis substantially perpendicular to the switching direction, and an angle-to-offset element to direct each of the N portions from the beam splitter to a different deflector of the N deflectors. Each of the N portions may have, at the deflector, a second elliptical beam spot with a major axis substantially parallel to the switching direction. |
| 主权项 |
1. A free-space multicast switch (MCS), comprising:
an input port array including an input port to launch a beam of light; an output port array including N (N>1) output ports; a beam splitter optically disposed between the input port array and the output port array, the beam splitter to split the beam of light into at least N portions in a splitting direction; a deflector array optically disposed between the beam splitter and the output port array,
the deflector array including N deflectors aligned in an array direction,
each deflector, of the N deflectors, having a switching direction that issubstantially perpendicular to the splitting direction, and
each of the N deflectors having an active region with a size in the array direction that matches a size in the array direction of a portion, of the N portions, incident thereon; first beam shaping optics optically disposed between the input port array and the beam splitter and second beam shaping optics optically disposed between the output port array and the deflector array,
the first beam shaping optics to shape the beam of light and form a first elliptical beam spot at the beam splitter,
a major axis of the first elliptical beam spot being substantially perpendicular to the switching direction; and an angle-to-offset (ATO) element optically disposed between the beam splitter and the deflector array, wherein the beam splitter and the deflector array are each disposed such that the ATO element is to direct each of the at least N portions of the beam of light from the beam splitter to a different deflector of the N deflectors, each of the at least N portions having, at the deflector, a second elliptical beam spot with a major axis substantially parallel to the switching direction. |
