Abstract
Two-dimensional microelectromechanical system (2-D MEMS) optical switches have been widely demonstrated in research laboratories and in the industry. The limitations of 2-D MEMS switches are well known. The non-uniformity in losses due to differences in free space path lengths between the most and least distance paths among ports restrict(s) 2-D MEMS switches to a practical maximum port-count of 32 × 32. This problem has never been addressed. A novel switching architecture, L-switching matrix, that decreases the most distance free space path length and the difference between the most and least distance paths while maintaining same nonblocking port switching capacity has been proposed and demonstrated. Collimators with optimized beam waist are selected such that the insertion loss of the average beam path is the lowest. Larger beam waists are used to accommodate for the diffraction effects of the Gaussian beam of the most distance path. However, larger beam waists require larger mirror areas to avoid beam-clipping and losses due to angular misalignment are more acute. Therefore, having shorter absolute and relative path lengths will avoid the beam-clipping effects and increase the port-to-port loss uniformity of the optical switch. The unique architecture of L-switching matrix which utilizes double-sided mirror can theoretically increase the maximum port-count to 64 × 64 or decrease the current insertion loss of a 32 × 32 MEMS switch by 50%. Moreover, L-switching matrix requires 25% less mirrors and electrodes than conventional cross bar architecture. A fabrication process involving silicon-on-insulator SOI wafers has been defined to fabricate the double-sided mirrors used in L-switching matrix.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 603-613 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Innerconnect architecture
- Microelectromechanical system (MEMS)
- Micromachined
- Optical crossconnect
- Optical switches