Single-level no-crossing microelectromechanical hitless switch for high density integrated optics

Abstract

An optical switch includes at least two signal bus waveguides that receive optical signals as input. At least two directional couplers are positioned so that the inputs to the at least two directional couplers are not switched relative to each other.

1 . An optical switch comprising: 
 at least two signal bus waveguides that receive optical signals as input; and    at least two directional couplers that are positioned so that the inputs to said at least two directional couplers are not switched relative to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The optical switch of  claim 1  further comprising a bypass region that performs finite reconfiguration time operations on output signals received from one of said at least two directional couplers.  
   
   
       3 . The optical switch of  claim 2 , wherein said bypass region comprises a π-phase shift device in one of the arms of the Mach-Zehnder configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The optical switch of  claim 1 , wherein one of said at least two directional couplers provides outputs signals to a through port and a tap port.  
   
   
       5 . The optical switch of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two directional couplers comprises a MEMS perturbation device that is on the same vertical plane as the at least two signal bus waveguides.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , where said MEMS perturbation device provides strong perturbation with proximity switching, permitting complete phase mismatch of the directional couplers.  
   
   
       7 . A method of forming an optical switch comprising: 
 providing at least two signal bus waveguides that receive optical signals as input; and    positioning at least two directional couplers so that the inputs to said at least two directional couplers are not switched relative to each other.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprises proving a bypass region that performs finite reconfiguration time operations on output signals received from one of said at least two directional couplers.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said bypass region comprises a π-phase shift device in one of the arms of the Mach-Zehnder configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein one of said at least two directional couplers provides outputs signals to a through port and a tap port.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least two directional couplers comprises a MEMS perturbation device that is on the same vertical plane as the at least two signal bus waveguides.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said MEMS perturbation device provides strong perturbation with proximity switching, permitting complete phase mismatch of the directional couplers.