| 摘要 |
<p>An optical switch, preferably an add/drop switch, includes a minimal number of two-state switching arrangements (102, 104, 106 and 108; and 188, 190, 192 and 194), thereby facilitating a reduction of switch complexity. Light pulses entering the switch via a given input port (110, 112, 114 and 116) may be directed to either a corresponding output port (118, 120, 122 and 124) or a corresponding drop port (126, 128, 130 and 132) by the operation of the switching arrangements. Light pulses entering the switch via a given add port (134, 136, 138 and 140) may be directed to a corresponding output port or may be disbursed by the operation of the switching arrangements. The switching arrangements are toggled between reflective and transmissive states. In the preferred embodiment, the two-state switching arrangements are controlled by the manipulation of index matching fluid within trenches (168, 170, 172 and 174; and 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210). Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the switching arrangements are configured such that a given light pulse interacts with only one trench, thereby minimizing the overall signal loss and loss non-uniformities within the switch. <IMAGE></p> |
