Digital micromirror device as a diffractive reconfigurable optical switch for telecommunication

Pierre-Alexandre J. Blanche; Daniel N. Carothers; John Wissinger; Nasser N. Peyghambarian

doi:10.1117/1.JMM.13.1.011104

2 December 2013 Digital micromirror device as a diffractive reconfigurable optical switch for telecommunication

Pierre-Alexandre J. Blanche, Daniel N. Carothers, John Wissinger, Nasser N. Peyghambarian

Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, Vol. 13, Issue 1, 011104 (December 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.13.1.011104

Abstract

Digital micromirror devices (DMDs) by their high-switching speed, stability, and repeatability are promising devices for fast, reconfigurable telecommunication switches. However, their binary mirror orientation is an issue for conventional redirection of a large number of incoming ports to a similarly large number of output fibers, like with analog micro-opto electro-mechanical systems. We are presenting here the use of the DMD as a diffraction-based optical switch, where Fourier diffraction patterns are used to steer the incoming beams to any output configuration. Fourier diffraction patterns are computer-generated holograms that structure the incoming light into any shape in the output plane. This way, the light from any fiber can be redirected to any position in the output plane. The incoming light can also be split to any positions in the output plane. This technique has the potential to make an “any-to-any,” true nonblocking, optical switch with high-port count, solving some of the problems of the present technology.

Citation Download Citation

Pierre-Alexandre J. Blanche, Daniel N. Carothers, John Wissinger, and Nasser N. Peyghambarian "Digital micromirror device as a diffractive reconfigurable optical switch for telecommunication," Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS 13(1), 011104 (2 December 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.13.1.011104

Published: 2 December 2013

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