Patent ID: 6956985
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor based opto-electronic switching apparatus, comprising: at least two 1×N switch elements fabricated on a semiconductor, each 1×N switch element including an input and at least two outputs; at least two M×1 switch elements fabricated on a semiconductor, each M×1 switch element including at least two inputs and at least one output; wherein the at least two 1×N switch elements are arranged such that a first output of a first 1×N switch element is coupled directly through a first dedicated optical waveguide to a first input of a first M×1 switch element and a second output of the first 1×N switch element is coupled directly through a second dedicated optical waveguide to a first input of a second M×1 switch element; and wherein a first output of a second 1×N switch element is coupled directly through a third dedicated optical waveguide to a second input of the first M×1 switch element and a second output of the second 1×N switch element is coupled directly through a fourth dedicated optical waveguide to a second input of the second M×1 switch element, and where the optical waveguides are of substantially equal length, thus equalizing delay through the switch.