Patent ID: 6493480
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical cross-connect including:first stage including a plurality of first stage sub-switches each structured and positioned so as to receive inputs along a plurality of first stage input paths and to send outputs along a plurality of first stage output paths; a second stage including a plurality of second stage sub-switches each structured and positioned so as to receive inputs along a plurality of second stage input paths and to send outputs along a plurality of second stage output paths; and a third stage including a plurality of third-stage sub-switches each structured and positioned so as to receive inputs along a plurality of third stage input paths and to send outputs along a plurality of third stage output paths, wherein, for each first stage sub-switch of the plurality of first stage sub-switches, each of the output paths of said sub-switch is each aligned with an input path of a respective second stage sub-switch of the plurality of second-stage sub-switches and wherein each sub-switch of each stage is arranged on an individual layer of a stack of sub-switches within the respective stage.