| 摘要 |
The matrix comprises a set of cells each having a reflecting structure (12,14) so that it can reflect a beam issued from one side (20) of the matrix in the direction of an adjacent side. The reflecting structures have different orientations within the matrix, and each reflecting structure is orientated in parallel to the bisector (11) of a corner (16) of the matrix nearer the relevant mirror. The matrix is designed to accommodate a set of input fibres and a set of output fibres, for functioning as an optical mixer, that is an optical cross connect (OXC). The matrix is designed so to accommodate two sets of input fibres and two sets of output fibres, for functioning as an extraction/insertion multiplexer, that is an odd-drop multiplexer (ADM). The matrix comprises four rows and four columns, and 16 differently orientated mirrors in groups. The four mirrors situated near the corner (16) are parallel to the bisector (11), and the orientations of other mirrors are determined with respect to the bisectors of other corners, that is the common bisector (11) of corners (16,17) and the common bisector (12) of corners (18,19). Two input fibres (E1, E2) are placed on the side (20) and the other two input fibres (E3, E4) are placed on the opposite side (21). Two output fibres (S1, S2) are placed on the side (22), and the other two output fibres (S3, S4) are placed on the opposite side. The matrix has a symmetry with respect to the midpoint (25). In the case of a beam (28) the optical path is substantially equal to 3 times the step (p) of each cell, and for a beam (29) it is substantially equal to 5 times the step (p). The difference between the maximum and the minimum optical paths is 2 times the step, compared to the value of 6 for the prior art matrix.
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