Optical switch with a geometry based on perpendicularly-oriented planar lightwave circuits

摘要

An optical switch (20) has a plurality of input ports (22) and a plurality of output ports (24). The optical switch features a fan-out fan-in architecture (28) has a fan-out stage (34), a fan-in stage (38), and a coupling mechanism (44). The fan-out stage (34) is coupled to the plurality of input ports and has a first orientation. The fan-in stage (38) is coupled to the plurality of output ports and has a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. The coupling mechanism (44) optically couples the fan-out stage with the fan-in stage and maintains a predetermined relationship between the first orientation of the fan-in stage and the second orientation of the fan-in stage.