Patent ID: 6760504
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: G02B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical switching system, for switching optical energy from a plurality of input waveguides to a plurality of output waveguides, comprising: for each output waveguide: for each input waveguide: at least one respective attenuator, for diverting an adjustable portion of the optical energy entering via said each input waveguide to said each output waveguide, each said attenuator being adjusted to selectively pass a portion, of the optical energy input thereto, that is selected from the group consisting of substantially all of the optical energy input thereto, only some of the optical energy input thereto and substantially none of the optical energy input thereto, at least one of each said at least one respective attenuator including a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and having at most one idle port.