Optical Switch Matrix

Abstract

A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix is described herein. In one embodiment, exemplary routing within the optical switch matrix includes, but is not limited to, providing a plurality of switching nodes and a plurality of intermediate wavelengths. Furthermore, any one of a plurality of input waveguides is coupled with any one of a plurality of output waveguides, using one or more of the switching nodes and the intermediate waveguides. In addition, a switching node couples the respective input waveguide and the respective output waveguide. The switching node includes a first switch coupling the respective input waveguide to an intermediate waveguide and a second switch coupling the intermediate waveguide to the respective output waveguide. The second switch is an X switch having a first and second input ports and a first and second output ports, the first input port receiving the intermediate waveguide and the first output port coupling to the respective output waveguide

1 . A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of switching nodes and a plurality of intermediate waveguides; and   coupling any one of a plurality of input waveguides with any one of a plurality of output waveguides, using one or more of the switching nodes and the intermediate waveguides,   wherein at least one switching node includes a first switch coupling an incoming waveguide to an intermediate waveguide and a second switch coupling the intermediate waveguide to an outgoing waveguide, and wherein the second switch includes a first and second input ports and a first and second output ports, the first input port receiving the intermediate waveguide and the first output port coupling to the outgoing waveguide.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising partially switching at least one of the second switches to divert at least a portion of an optical signal traversing through the second output port of the respective second switch, while routing a remainder of the optical signal traveling through the first output port. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising coupling at least one photonic detector to a second output port of at least one of the second switches, wherein the photonic detector receives the portion of the optical signal diverted via the second output port. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the photonic detector includes a photo diode. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the photonic detector detects and converts the optical signal into one or more electrical signals, which are used to measure one or more properties of the optical signal. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling at least one of a plurality of auxiliary input waveguides to the second input port of a second switch of at least one switching node, each of the auxiliary input waveguides corresponding to each of the plurality of input waveguides. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second switch of the at least one switching node routes an optical signal received by the at least one auxiliary input waveguide to one of the output waveguides, while blocking at least a portion of the corresponding optical signal received by the corresponding input waveguide. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first switch is one of an X and Y switches having a first and second output ports, wherein the first output port is coupled to the respective intermediate waveguide. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second output port of the first switch is coupled to an auxiliary output waveguide corresponding to the respective output waveguide, and wherein the first switch is capable of partially switching to divert at least a portion of an optical signal received by the corresponding input waveguide to a corresponding auxiliary output waveguide, while a remainder of the optical signal is routed to the corresponding output waveguide. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second switches are total internal reflection (TIR) switches implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       11 . A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix, the method comprising:
 interconnecting any one of the input waveguides to any one of the output waveguides using at least a portion of a plurality of switching elements and intermediate waveguides, wherein at least one of the switching elements includes a first input port, a first output port, and second output port, the first input port receiving an incoming waveguide and the first output port coupling to an outgoing waveguide; and   coupling at least one photonic detector to the second output port of the at least one switching element, wherein the switching element is capable of partially switching to divert at least a portion of an optical signal received from the first input port to the second output port, while allowing a remainder of the optical signal to be routed to the first output port, and wherein the respective photonic detector detects the portion of the optical signal from the second output port.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one photonic detector converts the portion of an optical signal into one or more electrical signals, and wherein the electrical signals are used to measure one or more attributes of the optical signal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the photonic detector includes a photo diode. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the switching elements is a total internal reflection (TIR) switch implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       15 . A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix, the method comprising:
 disposing N input waveguides on an input side of the matrix, N being an integer greater than 2;   disposing N output waveguides on an output side of the matrix; and   interconnecting any one of the N input waveguides to any one of the N output waveguides using N switching elements of a plurality of switching elements and one or more intermediate waveguides.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the switching elements is a total internal reflection (TIR) switch implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the switching elements includes a first and second output ports, and wherein the method further comprises partially switching the at least one switching element to divert a portion of an optical signal to the first output port while routing a remainder of the optical signal to the second output port. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising coupling a photonic detector to the first output port to detect and convert the optical signal into one or more electrical signals, wherein the one or more electrical signals are used to measure one or more attributes of the optical signal. 
   
   
       19 . A method for routing optical signals within an optical switch matrix, the method comprising:
 disposing a plurality of input waveguides on an input side of the matrix;   disposing a plurality of output waveguides on an output side of the matrix;   interconnecting any one of the input waveguides to any one of the output waveguides using one or more switching elements and intermediate waveguides; and   disposing a plurality of lateral side elements on one or more lateral sides other than the input and output side of the matrix, each of the lateral side elements inwardly directing an optical signal received from one of the input waveguides towards one of the output waveguides via at least a portion of the plurality of switching elements and intermediate waveguides.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the switching elements comprises a first output port and a second output port, wherein the method further comprises partially switching the switching element to divert at least a portion of an optical signal to the first output port while routing a remainder of the optical signal to the second output port. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising coupling a photonic detector to the first output port of at least one switching element to detect the portion of the optical signal diverted to the first output port while the remaining portion of the optical signal is routed to the second output port. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the photonic detector comprises a photo diode. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the switching elements having a photonic detector is located immediately adjacent to an output waveguide. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the switching elements having a photonic detector is an interior switching element within the input and output waveguides and the lateral side elements. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the photonic detector detects and converts the received optical signal to one or more electrical signals for measuring one or more attributes of the optical signal. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the switching elements is a total internal reflection (TIR) switch implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the lateral side elements comprises a waveguide bend to direct optical signals from a direction of the input side towards another direction of the output side. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the lateral side element comprises an optical mirror to direct optical signals from a direction of the input side towards a direction of the output side. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the lateral side element comprises a side-switching element to direct optical signals from a direction of the input side towards another direction of the output side. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the side-switching element comprises a plurality of output ports, and wherein the at least one switching element is capable of partially switching to divert at least a portion of an optical signal to one of the output ports while routing a remainder of the optical signal to one or more other output ports. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprises coupling at least one photonic detector to an output port of the at least one of the side-switching elements, wherein the photonic detector detects and converts the optical signal to one or more electrical signals for analyzing one or more attributes of the optical signal. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the side-switching elements is a total internal reflection (TIR) switch implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of lateral side elements comprises a combination of at least two of a waveguide bend, an optical mirror, and a side-switching element, to direct optical signals from a direction of the input side towards another direction of the output side. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the side-switching elements comprises a plurality of output ports, and wherein the at least one switching element is capable of partially switching to divert at least a portion of an optical signal to one of the output ports while routing a remainder of the optical signal to one or more other output ports. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein a photonic detector is coupled to an output port of at least one of the side-switching element to detect and convert an optical signal to one or more electrical signals. 
   
   
       36 . A method, comprising:
 coupling an intermediate waveguide to a first switching element, the first switching element to receive an optical signal from an incoming waveguide; and   coupling a second switching element to the intermediate waveguide to receive the directed optical signal from the intermediate waveguide, the second switching element having a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port outputs at least a portion of the optical signal to an outgoing waveguide and the second output port diverts at least a portion of the optical signal for monitoring purposes.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 coupling a photonic detector to the second output port of the second switching element; and   converting, via the photonic detector, the diverted portion of the optical signal into one or more electrical signals.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising measuring one or more attributes of the optical signal based on the one or more electrical signals. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the photonic detector comprises a photo diode. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein at least one of the first and second switching elements is a total internal reflection (TIR) switch implemented based on a carrier injection in a semiconductor material.