Free-space optical cross-connect

摘要

The present invention discloses an optical cross-connection device. The device is fabricated by disposing liquid crystal polarization modulators on a polarization beam splitting cube. The modulators effect switching by changing the polarization state of the light signal passing through the liquid crystal cell. The beam splitting cube directs the signal according to the polarization state. Several prisms are also disposed on the cube. The prisms are used to direct the light signals inside the switch. The device is simple to make, relatively inexpensive, and compact. Because it uses standard LCD technology there are very few mechanical parts subject to fatigue and other reliability issues.