Optical switch
By adopting a combined structure of lens and mirror array in a multi-core optical fiber with high core integration, combined with the configuration of MEMS tilt mirror and electrode pads, the problems of high insertion loss and narrow bandwidth in the prior art are solved, and low Power consumption and efficient optical switch design.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380034859.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-07
AI Technical Summary
In multi-core fibers with high core integration, the mirror array configuration of existing core selection switches is limited, resulting in high insertion loss and narrow bandwidth problems.
An optical switch is designed, using a combined structure of lens and mirror array, and the geometric shape and spacing of light are amplified through a MEMS inclination mirror. Combined with the configuration of the electrode pad, the insertion loss caused by light exceeding the reflective surface is suppressed, and the insertion loss caused by light exceeding the reflection surface is suppressed. Rotate the reflective surface to increase the filling rate.
A multi-core fiber optical switch suitable for high core integration is realized, which reduces optical loss, expands bandwidth, and operates at low power consumption, effectively suppresses insertion loss.
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Figure CN119278397A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical switch. Background Art
[0002] In recent years, with the high speed of mobile communications, the communication traffic of the optical network as the backbone has continued to increase. The optical link currently using single-mode fiber (SCF) is difficult to continue to meet the growing traffic demand. Therefore, a space division multiplexing (SDM) network using multimode fiber (MCF) is proposed.
[0003] In addition to the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) layer using SCF, the SDM network also has an SDM layer that uses spatially segmented channel routing based on MCF. In recent years, as a spatial cross-connect (SXC) architecture using MCF, a simple and economical SXC architecture based on a core selection switch (CSS) has been proposed (for example, see non-patent document 1).
[0004] Prior art literature
[0005] Non-patent literature
[0006] Non-patent document 1: Masahiko Kanno et al., "Core selective switch with low insertion loss over ultra-wide wavelength range for spatial channel networks", Journal of Lightwave Technology, USA, March 15, 2022, Vol. 40, No. 6, p. 1822-p. 1828 Summary of the invention
[0007] Problem that the invention aims to solve
[0008] In the proposed core selection switch, a tilted MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) mirror is used as a switch element. The tilt angle of the MEMS mirror is controlled by controlling the applied voltage to the MEMS mirror. The core of the multi-core optical fiber at the output end is selected by controlling the tilt angle.
[0009] However, in an optical switch including the core selection switch and corresponding to a multi-core optical fiber, the higher the core integration density of the multi-core optical fiber, the more restricted the arrangement of the reflectors in the reflector array.
[0010] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is desirable to provide an optical switch suitable for a multi-core optical fiber with a high core integration density.
[0011] Solutions to the problem
[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an optical switch is provided. The optical switch includes a connection portion, a lens, and a reflector array. One or more multi-core optical fibers are connected to the connection portion.
[0013] The lens is arranged to allow input light from one or more multi-core optical fibers connected to the connection portion to pass therethrough. The reflector array is configured to reflect the input light propagating through the lens toward the output end.
[0014] Each of the one or more multi-core optical fibers has a plurality of cores arranged two-dimensionally at a predetermined pitch to form a predetermined geometric shape. The lens is configured so that input light passing through the lens is incident on the reflector array in an amplified geometric shape and pitch.
[0015] The reflector array includes a plurality of reflectors arranged two-dimensionally in an enlarged geometric shape and at an interval. Each of the plurality of reflectors is configured so that a reflective surface can be driven to rotate about two rotation axes.
[0016] According to the optical switch having the above configuration, the reflector array receives input lights from one or more multi-core optical fibers with an enlarged geometric shape and pitch, and can reflect each of the input lights toward the corresponding output end.
[0017] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical switch suitable for a multi-core optical fiber with a high core integration density.
[0018] According to one solution of the present disclosure, the plurality of reflective mirrors may include a plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors. The MEMS tilt mirrors as switching elements have lower optical loss and wider bandwidth and can operate with low power consumption.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of reflectors may include a main body having a reflective surface on the surface, and an electrode pad for power supply. The electrode pad may be disposed on the back of the main body. According to the configuration of the electrode pad, a wider reflective surface may be disposed on the surface compared to a case where the electrode pad is disposed on the surface. Therefore, the insertion loss caused by the light incident on the reflector exceeding the reflective surface can be suppressed.
[0020] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the reflector array may include a substrate. The plurality of reflectors may be surface mounted on the substrate via electrode pads.
[0021] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the mirror array may include a plurality of MEMS devices as the plurality of mirrors, and the plurality of MEMS devices may be configured as MEMS tilt mirrors each having one reflective surface.
[0022] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the reflector may include a first structure and a second structure. The first structure may be driven to rotate around the two rotation axes. The second structure has a front surface and a back surface, and the second structure may be connected to the first structure at the back surface. The surface of the second structure may extend in a direction perpendicular to the normal direction in a manner overlapping with the first structure in the normal direction. The reflecting surface may be provided on the surface of the second structure.
[0023] Compared with the case where the reflection surface is provided on the surface of the first structure, by providing the reflection surface on the surface of the second structure overlapping the first structure driven by rotation, a wider reflection surface can be provided on the second structure, thereby suppressing the insertion loss. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Figure 1 This is a diagram for explaining an example of setting a core selection switch in an optical network.
[0025] Figure 2 This is a diagram for explaining the optical structure of the core selection switch.
[0026] Figure 3 This is a diagram for explaining a controller for controlling a core selection switch.
[0027] Figure 4 This is a diagram conceptually illustrating an optical switch in a core selection switch.
[0028] Figure 5A is a top view showing a two-dimensional arrangement of a multi-core optical fiber in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, Figure 5B is a top view showing a two-dimensional arrangement of MEMS tilt mirrors in a mirror array.
[0029] Fig. 6A This is a top view of the MEMS tilt mirror. Figure 6B This is a bottom view of the MEMS tilt mirror.
[0030] Figure 7 is the front view of the mirror array.
[0031] Fig. 8A is a top view of a modified example of a MEMS tilt mirror. Figure 8B This is a front view of a MEMS tilt mirror according to a modified example.
[0032] Description of Reference Numerals
[0033] 1...optical network; 10...core selection switch; 20...multi-core optical fiber; 21...core;
[0034] 30...MCF array; 40...microlens array; 41...microlens;
[0035] 50... condenser lens; 80... reflector array; 81... substrate;
[0036] 85……MEMS tilt mirror; 90……controller; 100……MEMS tilt mirror;
[0037] 110 ……lower component; 111 ……main body; 111A ……opening;
[0038] 111B …… comb-tooth electrode; 113 …… frame; 113A …… comb-tooth electrode;
[0039] 113B …… comb-tooth electrode; 115 …… electrode plate; 115A …… comb-tooth electrode;
[0040] 119 ... electrode pad; 150 ... upper structure; 151 ... support column;
[0041] 155 ... supporting plate; 159 ... reflecting surface; 850 ... main body; 851 ... reflecting surface;
[0042] 859……Electrode pad. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0044] Figure 1 The core selection switch (CSS) 10 of the present embodiment shown is an optical switch provided at a node of an optical network 1 constructed using a multi-core optical fiber (MCF) 20 .
[0045] Each of the multicore optical fibers 20 has a plurality of cores 21 in one cladding. The core selection switch 10 is connected to the plurality of multicore optical fibers 20. The core selection switch 10 is configured to switch the propagation path of the optical signal between the input MCF and the output MCF in units of cores.
[0046] The input MCF is one or more multi-core optical fibers 20 among the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 that inputs optical signals to the core selection switch 10. The output MCF is one or more multi-core optical fibers 20 among the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 that outputs optical signals from the core selection switch 10 to the outside.
[0047] Figure 2 The core selection switch 10 shown includes an MCF array 30 , a microlens array 40 , a condenser lens 50 , and a reflector array 80 . Figure 2 The single-dot chain line in concep tual ly shows the propagation of input light, ie, an optical signal input from the input MCF to the reflector array 80. As shown in FIG.
[0048] like Figure 3As shown, the core selection switch 10 is connected to a controller 90. The controller 90 is electrically connected to the reflector array 80 so as to be able to control the reflector array 80.
[0049] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a conceptual description of an optical switch implemented in the core selection switch 10 . Figure 4 The solid arrows in conceptually illustrate the propagation of input light from the input MCF. Figure 4 The double-dashed-dash arrow in illustratively shows the propagation of reflected light which comes from the reflector array 80 corresponding to the input light and is output to the outside through the output MCF.
[0050] The MCF array 30 functions as a connection portion with the multi-core optical fiber 20. At least a portion of the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 connected and fixed to the MCF array 30 functions as the above-mentioned input MCF. At least a portion of the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 functions as the above-mentioned output MCF. The plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 may include a multi-core optical fiber 20 that functions as both an input MCF and an output MCF.
[0051] The microlens array 40 includes a plurality of microlenses 41. The plurality of microlenses 41 are arranged two-dimensionally in the microlens array 40. Specifically, the plurality of microlenses 41 are arranged in the microlens array 40 in a two-dimensional arrangement corresponding to the two-dimensional arrangement of the multi-core optical fibers 20 connected to the MCF array 30. Each microlens 41 functions as a collimator.
[0052] Each microlens 41 corresponds to one of the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20. Each microlens 41 is disposed on a path along which input light from a corresponding one of the plurality of multi-core optical fibers 20 propagates, or a path along which output light toward the corresponding one of the multi-core optical fibers 20 propagates.
[0053] The input light from each core 21 of the input MCF is converted into collimated light by the corresponding microlens 41 and is incident on the condenser lens 50. The incident position on the condenser lens 50 is different for each core 21. Figure 4 In the figure, one multi-core optical fiber 20 in the middle section among the three multi-core optical fibers 20 shown corresponds to the input MCF.
[0054] The optical system of the core selection switch 10 is configured as a 4f optical system using a microlens array 40 and a condenser lens 50. Therefore, the input light from the multi-core optical fiber 20 is incident on the reflector array 80 at a pitch and a beam diameter corresponding to f2 / f1 times the core pitch and the core MFD (mode field diameter) in the multi-core optical fiber 20. Here, f1 is the focal length of the microlens 41, and f2 is the focal length of the condenser lens 50.
[0055] The condenser lens 50 is configured to form a telecentric optical system. The input light from the input MCF is deflected by the condenser lens 50 so that the light passing through the condenser lens 50 is parallel to the principal ray (principal axis) of the condenser lens 50 and is condensed so as to be focused at the focal position of the condenser lens 50.
[0056] The mirror array 80 is arranged to reflect the input light at the focal position. The mirror array 80 includes a plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 as MEMS type mirrors on the surface of a substrate 81 arranged perpendicularly to the principal ray.
[0057] A plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 are provided on an image forming surface of the input light from the condenser lens 50. The reflector array 80 may include the same number of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 as the number of cores of the input MCF.
[0058] That is, each MEMS tilt mirror 85 is disposed at a position where input light from a corresponding core 21 propagated through the condenser lens 50 is condensed. The plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 are two-dimensionally arranged on the substrate 81 in a shape that magnifies the two-dimensional arrangement of the cores 21 input to the MCF.
[0059] like Figure 5A As shown, in each multi-core optical fiber 20, a plurality of cores 21 are arranged two-dimensionally at a predetermined pitch within the cladding to form a predetermined geometric shape. The input light incident on the reflector array 80 passes through the microlens array 40 and the focusing lens 50 to be incident on the reflector array 80 in a geometric shape and pitch that magnifies the geometric shape and pitch of the plurality of cores 21.
[0060] In the reflector array 80, as Figure 5B As shown, a plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate 81 with an enlarged geometric shape and pitch. Figure 5B The symbol D1 in denoted by FIG. 8 represents the interval between adjacent MEMS tilt mirrors 85 , that is, the mirror pitch. The mirror pitch D1 is the distance between the centers of the reflection surfaces 851 of the adjacent MEMS tilt mirrors 85 . Figure 5B The symbol D2 in shows the diameter of the reflecting surface 851, that is, the mirror diameter.
[0061] Fig. 6A This is a plan view of the MEMS tilt mirror 85 as viewed from above the mirror array 80 , in other words, a top view. Figure 6B FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the MEMS tilt mirror 85. Fig. 6A and Figure 6B It can be understood that the MEMS tilt mirror 85 is configured such that a reflective surface 851 is formed on the surface of a main body 850 and a plurality of electrode pads 859 for power supply are formed on the back surface.
[0062] like Figure 7As shown, the MEMS tilt mirror 85 is surface mounted on the substrate 81 by welding in a state where the electrode pad 859 faces the substrate 81. Figure 7 In the figure, the illustration of the rear-row MEMS tilt mirror 85 is omitted.
[0063] The MEMS tilt mirror 85 is configured to be able to drive the reflecting surface 851 to rotate about two rotation axes Cx and Cy parallel to the surface of the substrate 81 based on power supplied from the electrode pad 859 through the substrate 81. The two rotation axes Cx and Cy are orthogonal to each other.
[0064] The controller 90 is connected to the substrate 81 so as to supply power to the plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85. Each MEMS tilt mirror 85 receives power from the controller 90 via the electrode pad 859, thereby driving the reflection surface 851 to rotate.
[0065] The controller 90 is connected to the reflector array 80 in such a manner that the applied voltage applied to each of the plurality of MEMS tilt mirrors 85 can be controlled separately. The rotation of the reflective surface 851 and the tilt angle of the reflective surface 851 are controlled by the control of the applied voltage by the controller 90. Hereinafter, the tilt angle of the reflective surface 851 is also referred to as the tilt angle of the MEMS tilt mirror 85.
[0066] The tilt angles of the multiple MEMS tilt mirrors 85 provided in the reflector array 80 are controlled by the controller 90 to be tilt angles corresponding to the output cores. The output core referred to here refers to the object to be optically coupled with the reflected light, that is, the core 21 of the output MCF. The output core corresponds to the output end of the reflected light.
[0067] Each MEMS tilt mirror 85 reflects input light from a corresponding core 21 at a tilt angle controlled by the controller 90. In accordance with the tilt angle, the reflected light propagates to one core 21 selected by the controller 90 among the plurality of cores 21 provided in the output MCF, that is, the output core, and is output from the core 21 to the outside of the core selection switch 10 as output light.
[0068] In the core selection switch 10 configured as described above, input light from each core 21 of the input MCF passes through the corresponding microlens 41 and the condenser lens 50. The input light passing through the condenser lens 50 is incident on the corresponding MEMS tilt mirror 85.
[0069] The light incident on the MEMS tilt mirror 85 is reflected at its reflection surface 851 in a direction corresponding to the tilt angle of the MEMS tilt mirror 85. The reflected light is optically coupled to an output core 21 of an output MCF selected by the controller 90 through control of the tilt angle of the corresponding MEMS tilt mirror 85.
[0070] The reflected light is incident on the output core from the reflection surface 851 of the MEMS tilt mirror 85 through the condenser lens 50 and the corresponding micro lens 41. The light incident on the output core is propagated to the outside of the core selection switch 10 through the output core.
[0071] Through the core selection switch 10 described above, the reflector array 80 receives input light from the multi-core optical fiber 20 with an enlarged geometry and pitch, and is able to reflect each of these input lights toward the output core. The MEMS tilt mirror 85 as a reflector in the reflector array 80 has low optical loss and a wide bandwidth, and can operate with low power consumption.
[0072] Furthermore, in the MEMS tilt mirror 85 of the present embodiment, an electrode pad 859 is provided on the back surface of the main body 850 opposite to the surface of the main body 850 provided with the reflective surface 851. According to the above configuration, a reflective surface 851 having a larger area can be provided on the surface of the main body 850 compared to a case where the electrode pad 859 is provided on the surface of the main body 850. Therefore, insertion loss caused by light incident on the MEMS tilt mirror 85 exceeding the reflective surface 851 can be suppressed.
[0073] In the core selection switch 10, insertion loss may be generated due to vignetting of input light in the reflective mirror array 80. Since the beam diameter of the input light incident thereto is larger than that of the reflective surface 851 of the MEMS tilt mirror 85, vignetting corresponds to a portion of the input light exceeding the reflective surface 851. The portion of the input light exceeding the reflective surface 851 generates insertion loss.
[0074] The insertion loss caused by vignetting changes according to the ratio between the mirror diameter D2 of the MEMS tilt mirror 85 and the distance D1 between adjacent MEMS tilt mirrors 85, that is, the mirror pitch D1. The ratio D2 / D1 between the mirror diameter D2 and the mirror pitch D1 is also called the fill factor.
[0075] The smaller the filling rate, the greater the insertion loss. When the insertion loss caused by vignetting is controlled to be less than a certain ratio, the higher the core integration of the multi-core optical fiber 20, the higher the filling rate is required.
[0076] In this embodiment, as described above, since the electrode pad 859 is provided on the back surface of the body 850 , the mirror diameter D2 of the reflection surface 851 provided on the surface can be increased compared to the case where the electrode pad 859 is provided on the surface of the body 850 .
[0077] The filling factor can be increased if the mirror diameter D2 can be increased relative to the size of the main body 850. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the insertion loss caused by vignetting can be suppressed.
[0078] The above-mentioned MEMS tilt mirror 85 can be replaced by Fig. 8A and Figure 8B Alternatively, the MEMS tilt mirror 85 may be configured as follows: Fig. 8A and Figure 8B A MEMS tilt mirror 100 is shown.
[0079] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B The MEMS tilt mirror 100 shown in the figure includes a lower structure 110 as a first structure and an upper structure 150 as a second structure. The lower structure 110 includes a main body 111, a frame 113, and a plate 115. The lower structure 110 is configured to be able to drive the plate 115 so that the plate 115 rotates around two rotation axes Cx and Cy. Fig. 8A 1, the components of the upper structure 150 are shown in perspective. These components are shown by dotted lines in this figure.
[0080] The electrode plate 115 is a rectangular electrode plate 115 connected to the frame 113 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis Cx. The electrode plate 115 has comb-tooth electrodes 115A on both sides parallel to the rotation axis Cx. The comb-tooth electrodes 115A are provided to drive the electrode plate 115 to rotate around the rotation axis Cx by electrostatic force.
[0081] The frame 113 is a rectangular frame 113, which defines an internal space capable of accommodating the electrode plate 115. The electrode plate 115 is connected to the frame 113 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis Cx in the internal space. The frame 113 surrounds the electrode plate 115 when connected to the electrode plate 115.
[0082] The frame 113 has comb-teeth electrodes 113A having a complementary shape to the comb-teeth electrodes 115A provided on the electrode plate 115 at positions facing the comb-teeth electrodes 115A provided on the electrode plate 115 , that is, on both inner sides parallel to the rotation axis Cx.
[0083] The electrode plate 115 is connected to the frame 113 so that the comb-tooth electrode 115A provided on the electrode plate 115 and the comb-tooth electrode 113A provided on the inner side of the frame 113 are meshed with each other with a small gap. The electrode plate 115 rotates around the rotation axis Cx relative to the frame 113 by the electrostatic force generated between the comb-tooth electrode 115A and the comb-tooth electrode 113A.
[0084] The frame 113 has comb-teeth electrodes 113B on both sides of the outer side parallel to the rotation axis Cy. The comb-teeth electrodes 113B are provided to rotationally drive the frame 113 around the rotation axis Cy by electrostatic force.
[0085] The main body 111 is a rectangular box-shaped structure with a bottom, and has an opening 111A capable of accommodating the frame 113. The frame 113 is connected to the main body 111 in a manner that allows it to rotate around the rotation axis Cy at the opening 111A. When the main body 111 is connected to the frame 113, its inner surface faces the outer surface of the frame 113 and surrounds the frame 113.
[0086] The main body 111 has comb-tooth electrodes 111B at positions opposite to the comb-tooth electrodes 113B provided on the outer side of the frame 113 , that is, on both inner sides parallel to the rotation axis Cy. The comb-tooth electrodes 111B have a complementary shape to the comb-tooth electrodes 113B provided on the frame 113 .
[0087] The frame 113 is connected to the main body 111 in such a manner that the comb-tooth electrodes 113B provided on the outer side of the frame 113 mesh with the comb-tooth electrodes 111B provided on the inner side of the main body 111 with a small gap therebetween. The frame 113 rotates around the rotation axis Cy relative to the main body 111 by the electrostatic force generated between the comb-tooth electrodes 113B and the comb-tooth electrodes 111B.
[0088] Similar to the MEMS tilt mirror 85 , an electrode pad 119 for power supply is provided on the back surface of the main body 111. Similar to the MEMS tilt mirror 85 , the MEMS tilt mirror 100 of the modified example is also surface mounted on the substrate 81 of the mirror array 80 .
[0089] The MEMS tilt mirror 100 receives voltage application from the controller 90 through the substrate 81 and the electrode pads 119. The plate 115 of the MEMS tilt mirror 100 is rotationally driven about two rotation axes Cx and Cy by electrostatic force generated by the voltage application.
[0090] The upper structure 150 of the MEMS tilt mirror 100 is fixed to the pole plate 115 which is driven to rotate in the above manner. The upper structure 150 includes a support 151, a support plate 155, and a reflecting surface 159. Fig. 8A In the figure, the support column 151 , the support plate 155 , and the reflection surface 159 which are components of the upper structure 150 are transparently shown.
[0091] The lower end of the support 151 is fixed to the electrode plate 115 so that the support 151 is erected in the normal direction of the electrode plate 115. Specifically, the support 151 is erected at the center of the electrode plate 115. The support plate 155 is connected to the upper end of the support 151 on its back side, that is, the lower surface, and is fixed to the support 151.
[0092] The support plate 155 is arranged in parallel with the electrode plate 115 in a state where it is spaced apart from the electrode plate 115 of the lower structure 110 in the normal direction of the electrode plate 115, wherein the height of the space is the height of the support 151. Thus, the support plate 155 is arranged on the lower structure 110 in a manner overlapping with the lower structure 110 in the normal direction and extends in a direction perpendicular to the normal direction.
[0093] Specifically, the support plate 155 has a larger size than the electrode plate 115 of the lower structure 110. The support plate 155 is arranged so as to completely cover the electrode plate 115 of the lower structure 110 from above.
[0094] The upper surface of the support plate 155 has a larger area than the surface of the electrode plate 115. A reflective surface 159 is formed on the surface of the larger support plate 155. The reflective surface 159 is larger than the area of the reflective surface that can be formed on the surface of the electrode plate 115.
[0095] That is, in the MEMS tilt mirror 100 of the modified example, the support plate 155 having a large area is provided to overlap with the electrode plate 115 of the lower structure 110 , and the support plate 155 has a large reflecting surface 159 .
[0096] Therefore, according to the MEMS tilt mirror 100 of the modification example, it is possible to effectively suppress the insertion loss caused by the input light to the mirror array 80 exceeding the reflection surface 159 .
[0097] Other Implementations
[0098] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various forms can be adopted. For example, the number of multi-core optical fibers 20 or the number of cores in the figure is only an example. The present disclosure can be applied to an optical switch having one or more multi-core optical fibers 20 of any number.
[0099] The functions of one component in the above-mentioned embodiments may be dispersed in multiple components. The functions of multiple components may also be integrated in one component. A part of the components of the above-mentioned embodiments may be omitted. All the modes included in the technical ideas specified by the sentences recorded in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. An optical switch, characterized in that: have: A connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting one or more multi-core optical fibers; a lens configured to allow input light from the one or more multi-core optical fibers connected to the connecting portion to pass therethrough; and a reflector array configured to reflect the input light incident through the lens toward an output end, and Each of the one or more multi-core optical fibers includes a plurality of cores arranged two-dimensionally at a predetermined pitch to form a predetermined geometric shape. The lens is configured such that the input light passing through the lens is incident on the reflector array in an amplified geometry and spacing, The reflector array comprises a plurality of reflectors arranged two-dimensionally in the magnified geometric shape and pitch. Each of the plurality of reflective mirrors is configured such that a reflective surface can be driven so as to rotate about two rotation axes.
2. The optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of mirrors include a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) tilt mirrors.
3. The optical switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of reflectors includes a body having the reflective surface on its surface, and an electrode pad for power supply, wherein the electrode pad is provided on the back surface of the body.
4. The optical switch according to claim 3, characterized in that: The reflector array comprises a substrate, The plurality of reflectors are surface mounted on the substrate via the electrode pads.
5. The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The mirror array includes a plurality of MEMS devices as the plurality of mirrors, and the plurality of MEMS devices are configured as MEMS tilt mirrors each having one reflective surface.
6. The optical switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The reflector has: a first structure driven to rotate about the two rotation axes; and a second structure having a front surface and a back surface, and the second structure is connected to the first structure at the back surface; The surface of the second structure extends in a direction perpendicular to the normal direction so as to overlap with the first structure in the normal direction. The reflective surface is disposed on the surface of the second structure.
Citation Information
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