Multicast optical switch

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A multicast optical switch comprising:
a first input port for receiving a first optical beam; a diffractive bulk optical element coupled to the first input port, for splitting the first optical beam impinging on the diffractive bulk optical element into first and second beam portions propagating in a bulk optical medium; first and second directors for receiving the first and second portions, respectively, of the first optical beam; and first and second output ports coupled to the first and the second directors, respectively, for outputting the first and the second portions of the first optical beam; wherein the first and the second directors are configured for independently coupling the first and the second portions of the first optical beam, respectively, into the first and the second output ports, respectively.