Patent ID: 7149379

Claim:
A multi-channel, optical switch to use light bullets representing data as optical pulses, the switch comprising: a waveguide; a plurality of data channels extending from the waveguide, each data channel of the the plurality of data channels providing an optical path suitable for transmitting a first light bullet representing data; a plurality of light source channels extending from the waveguide and supplementing said plurality of data channels, wherein each light source channel provides an optical path suitable for transmitting a second light bullet representing a control signal, wherein the second light bullet directs the first light bullet into one of said plurality of data channels; a light source connected to the plurality of light source channels, wherein the light source is a single source of light suitable for generating the second light bullet and for providing characteristics of the second light bullet; and an absorption layer extending from the waveguide, the absorption layer being separate from the plurality of channels, the absorption layer to absorb light bullets representing control signals.