Patent ID: 6647170
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch system comprising:a first plurality of optical switching sub-systems capable of switching optical signals from a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output signals in a first direction; a second plurality of optical switching sub-systems capable of switching optical signals from a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output signals in a second direction not the same as the first direction; and an optical connector coupling the first and second plurality of optical switch sub-systems, wherein each of the first and second plurality of optical switching sub-systems comprises: (a) an optical switch element including: (1) a substrate; (2) a platform adapted to move relative to the substrate; (3) an actuation mechanism to cause the platform to move from a first position to a second position relative to the substrate; and (4) a movable waveguide network having a first input and a second input, the waveguide network coupled to the platform such that the waveguide network moves with the platform, whereby when the platform is in the first position, the optical signal enters the first input and travels along the first optical path in the waveguide network, and when the platform is in the second position, the optical signal eaters the second input and travels along the second optical path in the waveguide network; (b) a plurality of optical switch elements having inputs and outputs; (c) a plurality of station input waveguide networks coupled to inputs of the plurality of optical switch elements, the stationary waveguide networks transmitting optical signals to the optical switch elements; and (d) a plurality of stationary output waveguide networks coupled to outputs of the plurality of optical switch elements, the stationary waveguide networks receiving optical signals from the optical switch elements.