Patent ID: 6975786
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: G02B,G02F,G03H,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical switch comprising an input optical fiber array, the input optical fiber array having plural input optical fibers, an output optical fiber array, and an optical system connecting the input optical fiber array to an output optical fiber receiver array wherein the optical system comprises a first bulk collimating lens, a first ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator, a first bulk focusing lens, a second bulk collimating lens, a second ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator, an interconnect region between said first and second ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators, and a second bulk focusing lens; wherein the plural input optical fibers of said input optical fiber array in use provide light, said first collimating bulk lens is disposed to receive said light from all of the plural input optical fibers of the input optical fiber array, said first bulk collimating lens is disposed to provide a plurality of collimated light beams from said input optical fiber array, each spatial light modulator is adapted for providing a respective selectable set of holograms, the first bulk focusing lens is disposed to receive light beams from the first ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator, the second bulk collimating lens is disposed to receive light beams from the first bulk focusing lens and provide a light beam to the second ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator and the second bulk focusing lens is disposed to provide output light to the output optical fiber array.