Novel array grating optical switch

Abstract

The utility model provides a novel array grating optical switch, relates to the technical field of optical fiber communication network transmission and application, and solves the technical problem that optical signals with different wavelengths cannot be flexibly switched to any output channel in an all-optical network in the prior art. The device comprises an optical switching device and a driver, an input end of the optical switching device is connected with an optical signal input device, a plurality of output ends of the optical switching device are respectively connected with an optical signal output device, and the optical switching device is connected with the driver. The optical switching device can separate input optical signals according to wavelengths to form a plurality of light beam signals with different wavelengths, and each light beam signal can be output through any optical signal output device under the control of the driver.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to optical fiber communication network transmission and application technical field, especially a kind of novel array grating optical switch. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid development of Internet service and multimedia application, the network traffic is rapidly expanding at exponential rate, which requires network to have high bit rate data transmission capability and large throughput cross capability. After the emergence of optical fiber communication technology, its huge potential bandwidth capacity of nearly 30THz brings the opportunity of vigorous development to communication field, especially since the proposal of information highway, optical technology begins to penetrate the whole communication network, and optical fiber communication has the trend of advancing to all-optical network.

[0003] All-optical network refers to the transmission and exchange of optical information flow in network always in the form of light, without optical / electricity, electricity / optical conversion. However, different wavelength optical signals cannot be flexibly switched to any output channel in the existing all-optical network. UTILIT Y MODEL CONTENT

[0004] The utility model aims at providing a kind of novel array grating optical switch to solve the technical problem that different wavelength optical signals cannot be flexibly switched to any output channel in the prior art all-optical network. The preferred technical solutions in many technical solutions provided by the utility model can produce many technical effects, which are described in detail below.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] The utility model provides a kind of novel array grating optical switch, including optical switching device and driver, wherein the input end of optical switching device is connected with optical signal input device, multiple output ends on optical switching device are all connected with an optical signal output device, optical switching device is connected with driver, optical switching device can separate input optical signal according to wavelength, form multiple different wavelength beam signals, and each optical beam signal can be output through an optical signal output device under the control of driver.

[0007] Optionally, the optical switching device includes arrayed waveguide grating and array MEMS optical switch assembly, the input end of the arrayed waveguide grating is connected with the optical signal input device, the multiple output ends on the arrayed waveguide grating are connected with the multiple input ends on the array MEMS optical switch assembly one by one, and the multiple output ends on the array MEMS optical switch assembly are connected with the multiple optical signal output devices one by one.

[0008] Optionally, the arrayed waveguide grating comprises an input waveguide, an input star coupler, an array waveguide, an output star coupler and an output array waveguide, which are sequentially connected, the optical signal inputter is connected with the input waveguide, and the output array waveguide is connected with the array MEMS optical switch assembly.

[0009] Optionally, the array MEMS optical switch assembly comprises a signal input area, a MEMS chip area and a signal output area, the signal input area and the signal output area are located at two sides adjacent to the MEMS chip area respectively, a plurality of input ends on the signal input area are connected with a plurality of output ends on the array waveguide grating in one-to-one correspondence, and a plurality of output ends of the signal output area are connected with a plurality of optical signal outputters in one-to-one correspondence.

[0010] Optionally, the MEMS chip area comprises a plurality of MEMS chips, and all the MEMS chips are arranged and distributed in an array mode, and the MEMS chips are electrically connected with the driver.

[0011] Optionally, a rotatable micro-mirror is arranged on the MEMS chip.

[0012] Optionally, the optical switching device further comprises an optical splitter and an optical power signal collector, the number of the optical splitter and the optical power signal collector is a plurality and they are connected in one-to-one correspondence, the optical splitter is arranged between the array waveguide grating and the optical signal inputter, the optical splitter is arranged between the array MEMS optical switch assembly and the optical signal outputter, and all the optical power signal collectors are connected with the driver.

[0013] Optionally, the optical switching device further comprises an optical splitter and an optical power signal collector, the number of the optical splitter and the optical power signal collector is a plurality and they are connected in one-to-one correspondence, the optical splitter is arranged between the array waveguide grating and the optical signal inputter, the optical splitter is arranged between the array MEMS optical switch assembly and the optical signal outputter, and all the optical power signal collectors are connected with the driver.

[0014] The novel array grating optical switch provided by the utility model can solve the technical problem that different wavelength optical signals cannot be flexibly switched to any output channel in the full optical network in the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the following embodiment or prior art description will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0016] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 is a flow chart of an optical switching device of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0018] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of an optical switching device of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0019] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an array MEMS optical switch assembly of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0020] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of an 8*8 array MEMS optical switch assembly of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0021] Figure 6 is a light path structural schematic diagram of an 8*8 array MEMS optical switch assembly of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0022] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a MEMS chip horizontal state of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0023] Figure 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a MEMS chip vertical state of a novel array grating optical switch provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0024] In the figure, 1 is an optical switching device; 11 is an array waveguide grating; 111 is an input waveguide; 112 is an input star coupler; 113 is an array waveguide; 114 is an output star coupler; 115 is an output array waveguide; 12 is an array MEMS optical switch assembly; 121 is a signal input area; 122 is a MEMS chip area; 1221 is a MEMS chip; 12211 is a micro mirror; 123 is a signal output area; 13 is an optical splitter; 14 is an optical power signal collector;

[0025] 2 is a driver;

[0026] 3. An optical signal inputter;

[0027] 4. An optical signal outputter;

[0028] 5. A power supply device;

[0029] 6. A host computer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the scope of the present application.

[0031] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more than two; the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "front end", "rear end", "head", "tail" and the like is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are only for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] In the description of the present application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection", "connection" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] The utility model provides a novel array grating optical switch, including optical switching device 1, driver 2, power device 5 and host computer 6, wherein, the input of optical switching device 1 is connected with optical signal input 3, and a plurality of output ends on optical switching device 1 are all connected with an optical signal output 4, and optical switching device 1 is connected with driver 2, and optical switching device 1 can separate the input optical signal according to wavelength, forms a plurality of different wavelength beam signals, and each beam signal can be output through an optical signal output 4 under the control of driver 2. Host computer 6 includes external case, software control program, external input and output port (optical signal input and output port, network port, computer interface etc.), can carry out interactive control to the equipment through external computer;Driver 2 can recognize the working condition of optical switching device 1 through the change of optical power signal, combines the control command provided by host computer, and controls the channel change of optical switching device 1 through drive signal;Power device 5 provides the required power supply of host computer 6, driver 2 and optical switching device 1, and simultaneously has standby power supply when power failure;Optical switching device 1 filters the input optical signal according to wavelength, and simultaneously selects the appropriate channel output flexibly according to network congestion. The novel array grating optical switch provided by the utility model, when the optical signal input by optical signal input 3 enters optical switching device 1, optical switching device 1 will separate the input optical signal according to the size of wavelength, forms a plurality of different wavelength beam signals, and each beam signal can select different optical signal output 4 flexibly under the control of driver 2 to output beam signal, solves the technical problem that different wavelength optical signals cannot be switched flexibly to the output channel in the full optical network in the prior art.

[0034] As optional implementation, optical switching device 1 includes arrayed waveguide grating 11 and array MEMS optical switch assembly 12, the input of arrayed waveguide grating 11 is connected with optical signal input 3, a plurality of output ends on arrayed waveguide grating 11 are connected with a plurality of input ends on array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 one by one, and a plurality of output ends on array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 are connected with a plurality of optical signal outputs 4 one by one.

[0035] As an optional implementation, the arrayed waveguide grating 11 comprises an input waveguide 111, an input star coupler 112, an array waveguide 113, an output star coupler 114 and an output array waveguide 115, which are sequentially connected, the optical signal inputter 3 is connected with the input waveguide 111, and the output array waveguide 115 is connected with the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12. After the optical signals of different wavelengths are input into the array waveguide grating 11, the optical signals are transmitted into the input star coupler 112 through the input waveguide 111, are distributed to the array waveguide 113 for transmission, and then are separated by the output star coupler 114 and are output to the output array waveguide 115, so that the optical signals of different wavelengths can enter the corresponding input ends of the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12.

[0036] As an optional implementation, the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 comprises a signal input area 121, a MEMS chip area 122 and a signal output area 123, the signal input area 121 and the signal output area 123 are respectively located on two sides adjacent to the MEMS chip area 122, a plurality of input ends on the signal input area 121 are connected with a plurality of output ends on the array waveguide grating 11 in one-to-one correspondence, that is, the plurality of input ends on the signal input area 121 are connected with the plurality of output ends on the output array waveguide 115 in one-to-one correspondence, and a plurality of output ends on the signal output area 123 are connected with a plurality of optical signal outputters 4 in one-to-one correspondence. The MEMS chip area 122 comprises a plurality of MEMS chips 1221, all the MEMS chips 1221 are arranged and distributed in an array, all the MEMS chips 1221 are arranged and distributed in an N*N manner, and the MEMS chips 1221 are electrically connected with the driver 2.

[0037] When the optical signals of different wavelengths are output from the array waveguide grating 11 and are transmitted into the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12, taking the 48*48 array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 as an example, the signal input area 121 is an array lens with 48 channels for inputting optical signals; the MEMS chip area 122 is composed of 48*48=2304 MEMS chips 1221, and the distribution is as shown in Figure 4 , each MEMS chip 1221 is as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 ; and the signal output area 123 is also an array lens with 48 channels for outputting optical signals.

[0038] The MEMS chip 1221 is provided with a rotatable micro-mirror 12211, when the driver 2 controls the MEMS chip 1221 to be powered, referring to Figure 8, the micro-mirror 12211 will rotate, so that the micro-mirror 12211 rises up and is perpendicular to the end face of the MEMS chip 1221, and the passing light signal is reflected by 90° to change the transmission direction of the light signal, thereby realizing the change of the light signal transmission path; when the driver 2 controls the MEMS chip 1221 to be powered off, referring to Figure 7 , the micro-mirror 12211 will rotate, so that the micro-mirror 12211 drops down and is horizontal to the end face of the MEMS chip 1221, and the transmission direction of the light signal will not be changed.

[0039] The arrayed waveguide grating 11 and the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 are in a matching relationship. Generally, a 48-channel arrayed waveguide grating 11 is used in cooperation with a 48*48 array MEMS optical switch assembly 12. The output light signals of the 48 output ends of the arrayed waveguide grating 11 are used as the light signal inputs of the 48*48 array MEMS optical switch assembly 12. Each wavelength is connected to the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 one by one, so that the input port and the output port can be freely switched and connected, and the intelligent interconnection of the light signal can be realized.

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the light path switching principle, an 8x8 array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 is taken as an example. That is, the signal input area 121 and the signal output area 123 both adopt an 8-channel array lens, and the MEMS chip area 122 adopts 8x8=64 as an example. The MEMS chip area 122 and the 8-channel array lens can be integrated or bonded together. As shown in Figure 6 , the different wavelength light signals input by the 8 output arrayed waveguides 115 enter the 8-channel array lens of the signal input area 121 and are marked as A~H respectively. The 8-channel array lens of the signal output area 123 is marked as A~H respectively, and finally received by the butt-jointed fiber array. As shown in the figure, A~A is the transmission path of the first wavelength signal. If it is needed to switch the wavelength signal to H of the signal output area 123 at this time, only the A row Hth MEMS chip 1221 in the array MEMS optical switch assembly 12 needs to be changed to the powered-on state, and the A row A MEMS chip 1221 and the D row H MEMS chip 1221 need to be changed to the powered-off state, so that the signal switching can be realized. The A~H transmission path is shown by the dashed line.

[0041] As an optional implementation, the optical switching device 1 further comprises optical power signal collectors 14 and optical splitters 13, both of which are multiple in number and are connected one by one, the arrayed waveguide grating 11 is provided with an optical splitter 13 between the optical signal inputter 3 and the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly 12, the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly 12 is provided with an optical splitter 13 between the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly 12 and the optical signal outputter 4, and all the optical power signal collectors 14 are connected with the driver 2. The optical splitter 13 is an unequal optical splitter, when the optical signal inputted by the optical signal inputter 3 enters the optical switching device 1, the optical signal is first split from an unequal optical splitter, 1% of the output optical power port is connected to an optical power signal collector 14, the inputted optical power is monitored, and information is transmitted to the driver 2; 99% of the output optical power port is connected to the input port of the arrayed waveguide grating 11.

[0042] When the optical signal is output from the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly 12, the optical signal is again split from an unequal optical splitter, 1% of the output optical power port is connected to an optical power signal collector 14, the outputted optical power is monitored, and information is transmitted to the driver 2; 99% of the output optical power port is connected to the optical signal outputter 4.

[0043] The above different wavelength optical signals are input from a new type of arrayed grating optical switch, are demultiplexed into corresponding channels by the arrayed waveguide grating 11, are switched by the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly 12, and the purpose of optical switching is achieved.

[0044] The above only describes the specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this, any skilled person in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A novel array grating optical switch, characterized in that, Includes an optical switching device (1) and a driver (2), wherein, The input end of the optical switching device (1) is connected to the optical signal input device (3), and multiple output ends of the optical switching device (1) are connected to an optical signal output device (4). The optical switching device (1) is connected to the driver (2). The optical switching device (1) can separate the input optical signal according to wavelength to form multiple beam signals of different wavelengths. Each beam signal can be output through one of the optical signal output devices (4) under the control of the driver (2).

2. The novel array grating optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical switching device (1) includes an arrayed waveguide grating (11) and an arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly (12). The input end of the arrayed waveguide grating (11) is connected to the optical signal input device (3). Multiple output ends on the arrayed waveguide grating (11) are connected one-to-one with multiple input ends on the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly (12). Multiple output ends on the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly (12) are connected one-to-one with multiple optical signal output devices (4).

3. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 2, characterized in that, The arrayed waveguide grating (11) includes an input waveguide (111), an input star coupler (112), an arrayed waveguide (113), an output star coupler (114), and an output arrayed waveguide (115). The input waveguide (111), the input star coupler (112), the arrayed waveguide (113), the output star coupler (114), and the output arrayed waveguide (115) are connected in sequence. The optical signal input device (3) is connected to the input waveguide (111), and the output arrayed waveguide (115) is connected to the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly (12).

4. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 2, characterized in that, The array MEMS optical switch assembly (12) includes a signal input area (121), a MEMS chip area (122), and a signal output area (123). The signal input area (121) and the signal output area (123) are located on two adjacent sides of the MEMS chip area (122). Multiple input terminals on the signal input area (121) are connected one-to-one with multiple output terminals on the array waveguide grating (11). Multiple output terminals on the signal output area (123) are connected one-to-one with multiple optical signal output devices (4).

5. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 4, characterized in that, The MEMS chip area (122) includes multiple MEMS chips (1221), all of which are arranged in an array and are electrically connected to the driver (2).

6. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 5, characterized in that, The MEMS chip (1221) is equipped with a rotatable micromirror (12211).

7. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical switching device (1) further includes an optical splitter (13) and an optical power signal collector (14). There are multiple optical splitters (13) and optical power signal collectors (14) connected one-to-one. The optical splitter (13) is disposed between the arrayed waveguide grating (11) and the optical signal input device (3). The optical splitter (13) is disposed between the arrayed MEMS optical switch assembly (12) and the optical signal output device (4). All optical power signal collectors (14) are connected to the driver (2).

8. A novel array grating optical switch according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes power supply devices (5) and a host (6).

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