Optical switch

Abstract

The invention provides and optical switch having a first plurality of independently moveable deflectors with a first optical bypass for allowing the beam of light launched into an input port to pass therethrough, and a second plurality of independently moveable deflectors with a second optical bypass for allowing the beam of light to pass therethrough to any one of a plurality of output ports, said second plurality of independently moveable deflectors being disposed so as to receive the beam of light that passed through the first optical bypass, and wherein a switching is carried out by the first and second plurality of independently moveable deflectors. The optical elements are disposed about a common optical axis. Advantageously, the optical switch includes relay lenses for directing the light beam to the first optical bypass and for receiving it from the second optical bypass and directing it to the output ports. Furthermore, an ATO element can be disposed between first and the second plurality of independently moveable deflectors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical switch comprising: 
 at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;    at least two output ports for selectively receiving a beam of light;    a switch core in optical communication with the at least one input port and the at least two output ports;    at least a first optical bypass, disposed at the switch core, comprising a first transmissive point through which output beams pass out of the switch core, said output beams substantially overlap each other at the first optical bypass; and    a plurality of beam deflectors disposed in the switch core for switching the beam of light from the at least one input port to a selected one of the at least two output ports through the transmissive point of the at least first optical bypass.    
     
     
         2 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least first optical bypass is in optical communication with the at least one input port for allowing input beams to pass into the switch core via the first transmissive point.  
     
     
         3 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 2  wherein at least one of the plurality of beam deflectors is an independently moveable beam deflector.  
     
     
         4 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 3  wherein the plurality of beam deflectors includes a first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors, said first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors being disposed on a first surface comprising the at least first optical bypass.  
     
     
         5 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 1  further including an at least second optical bypass for allowing at least one of input and output beams to pass into and out of the switch core.  
     
     
         6 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 5  wherein the plurality of beam deflectors includes a second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors, said second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors being disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface comprising the at least second optical bypass.  
     
     
         7 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the first and second surface is one of a planar and a spherical surface.  
     
     
         8 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 7  wherein the at least first optical bypass and the at least second optical bypass are disposed along an axis of symmetry.  
     
     
         9 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 8  wherein the first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors is disposed about the at least first optical bypass and the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors is disposed about the at least second optical bypass, said at least first optical bypass being in optical communication with the at least one input port and said at least second optical bypass being in optical communication with the at least two output ports.  
     
     
         10 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 9  further including a first relay lens disposed about the axis of symmetry between the at least one input port and the first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors, said first relay lens for receiving a beam of light from the at least one input port and for directing a beam of light to the first optical bypass.  
     
     
         11 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 10  wherein the at least one input port and the first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors are disposed near or at a focal plane of the first relay lens.  
     
     
         12 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 10  further including a second relay lens disposed about the axis of symmetry between the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors and the at least two output ports, said second relay lens for receiving a beam of light from the at least second optical bypass and for directing a beam of light to a selected one of the at least two output ports.  
     
     
         13 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 12  wherein the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors and the at least two output ports are disposed near or at a focal plane of the second relay lens.  
     
     
         14 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 13  wherein a focal length of the first relay lens is approximately equal to a focal length of the second relay lens.  
     
     
         15 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 8  further comprising an ATO element, said ATO element being disposed between the first and the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors along the axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry being an optical axis of the ATO element.  
     
     
         16 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 15  wherein the ATO element is for passing a beam of light three times therethrough along an optical path between the at least one input port and a selected one of the at least two output ports.  
     
     
         17 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 15  wherein the first and the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors are disposed near or at a focal plane of the ATO element.  
     
     
         18 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 17  wherein the ATO element has a focal length approximately equal to a near zone length or Rayleigh range of a beam of light incident thereon.  
     
     
         19 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 17  wherein the ATO element is one of a lens and a mirror.  
     
     
         20 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 8  wherein the first plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors and the second plurality of independently moveable beam deflectors comprise an array of micro-mirrors.  
     
     
         21 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 20  wherein the array of micro-mirrors is one of a linear, rectangular, and radial array.  
     
     
         22 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 9  further including at least one micro-lens disposed at at least one of the at least one input port and the at least two output ports.  
     
     
         23 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 22  wherein the at least one input port and the at least two output ports are parallel to the optical axis or radially disposed about the optical axis.  
     
     
         24 . An optical switch comprising: 
 at least one input port for launching a beam of light into the optical switch;    at least two output ports for selectively receiving the beam of light;    a first plurality of independently moveable deflectors disposed about a first optical bypass for allowing a beam of light launched from the at least one input port to pass therethrough, and wherein input beams passing through the first optical bypass are substantially overlapping at the first optical bypass; and    a second plurality of independently moveable deflectors disposed about a second optical bypass for allowing a beam of light to pass therethrough to any one of the at least two output ports, said second plurality of independently moveable deflectors being disposed so as to receive a beam of light that has passed through the first optical bypass, and wherein the first and second plurality of independently moveable deflectors are adapted to switch a beam of light, and wherein output beams passing through the second optical bypass are substantially overlapping at the second optical bypass.    
     
     
         25 . The optical switch as defined in  claim 24  wherein the first and second optical bypasses comprise a transmissive point through which input and output beams pass into and out of the optical switch.