Micro-mechanical wavelength-selectable switches for photonic networks

Masato Mizukami; Yoshitada Katagiri

doi:10.1117/12.647917

5 December 2005 Micro-mechanical wavelength-selectable switches for photonic networks

Masato Mizukami, Yoshitada Katagiri

Proceedings Volume 6050, Optomechatronic Micro/Nano Devices and Components; 605008 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.647917
Event: Optomechatronic Technologies 2005, 2005, Sapporo, Japan

Abstract

Reconfigurable wideband photonic networks based on dense wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are promising for versatile ubiquitous services. In such networks, wavelength-selectable optical switches will be needed for WDM-based routing, which is a primary function of the networks. A critical requirement is a wavelength selection time of 20 ms or less; otherwise, data packets will be lost. Various filters, including acousto-optic filters or Fabry-Perot etalon filters, are candidates for such switches, but all are inadequate because of high driving power or low accuracy in selecting wavelengths. We propose and demonstrate a wavelength-selectable switch that consists of micromechanically movable in/out filters. A series of thirty-two in/out elements with highly wavelength-managed dielectric filter units, which have flat-top spectral responses according to ITU-T grids, are densely packaged into a small space of 45 x24 x11 mm using miniaturized voice-coil motors (VCMs). By accurately arranging the filter elements along a collimating optical beam between fibers, we achieve small total insertion losses of less than 2.5 dB for all elements. By optimizing the VCM torque, we also achieve a wavelength-selection time of 10 ms (The minimum is 5 ms). We also achieve good wavelength reproducibility with an error of less than 0.1 nm, which was confirmed by a repetition test. These results show that the proposed switches are suitable for practical use.

Citation Download Citation

Masato Mizukami and Yoshitada Katagiri "Micro-mechanical wavelength-selectable switches for photonic networks", Proc. SPIE 6050, Optomechatronic Micro/Nano Devices and Components, 605008 (5 December 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.647917

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KEYWORDS

Switching

Optical filters

Switches

Optical fibers

Actuators

Dielectric filters

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