Optical switch and optical switching system

Abstract

An optical switch and an optical switching system. The optical switch comprises a first transmission waveguide group (110), a second transmission waveguide (120), and a switch device (140). The first transmission waveguide group (110) comprises N mutually independent first transmission waveguides (111), wherein N is an integer, and N is greater than or equal to 2. The switch device (140) is configured to selectively connect the second transmission waveguide (120) to any first transmission waveguide (111) in the first transmission waveguide group (110), or interrupt optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide (120) and each first transmission waveguide (111) in the first transmission waveguide group (110). Optical switching between multiple channels is implemented by one switch device (140), thereby reducing the number of switch devices (140) required by a system, reducing the chip area and the channel length, and thus reducing transmission loss.

Description

Optical switches and optical switching systems

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510348103.5, filed on March 24, 2025, entitled "Optical Switch and Optical Exchange System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to an optical switch and optical switching system. Background Technology

[0003] The combination of MEMS technology and silicon photonics technology can realize the on-chip implementation of large-scale all-optical switching equipment, which is a promising optical switching solution.

[0004] There are currently various optical switching layout schemes. For example, Figure 1 shows a 4*4 switch matrix topology diagram of the Benes layout. Using the Benes layout can effectively reduce the number of switches, but each path needs to pass through multiple switches, thus increasing optical loss.

[0005] Another layout scheme, as shown in Figure 2, is a cross-bar switch topology, in which multiple first waveguides 11 and multiple second waveguides 12 are arranged in a cross array, and at least one switching device 14 is provided for each intersection 13. In this scheme, since each channel only needs to pass through the switching device 14 once, the loss is reduced. However, since at least one switching device 14 needs to be provided for each intersection 13, not only is the number of switching devices 14 large, but the chip size is also larger, and further, the channel length is increased, resulting in higher transmission loss. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide an optical switch and optical switching system that reduces the number of switching devices, thereby reducing chip size, and shortens channel length to reduce transmission loss.

[0007] To achieve one of the above objectives, in a first aspect, the technical solution of this application provides an optical switch, the optical switch being disposed on a substrate, the optical switch comprising:

[0008] The first transmission waveguide group includes N first transmission waveguides, where any two first transmission waveguides are independent of each other, N is an integer, and N≥2;

[0009] One second transmission waveguide;

[0010] A switching device is configured to selectively connect the second transmission waveguide to any one of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group, or to disconnect the optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide and each of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group.

[0011] Furthermore, the switching device includes:

[0012] A switching waveguide, independent of the first transmission waveguide and the second transmission waveguide, the switching waveguide includes a first coupling section and a second coupling section that are optically connected to each other;

[0013] A first driver is configured to drive the first coupling portion close to any of the first transmission waveguides to optically couple the corresponding first transmission waveguide, and to drive the first coupling portion away from the first transmission waveguide group to optically decouple it from each of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group.

[0014] The second driver is independent of the first driver. The second driver is used to drive the second coupling part closer to the second transmission waveguide to optically couple the second transmission waveguide, and to drive the second coupling part away from the second transmission waveguide to optically decouple it from the second transmission waveguide.

[0015] Furthermore, there are two first transmission waveguides, and the first coupling part is located between the two first transmission waveguides. The first driver is used to drive the first coupling part to move between the two first transmission waveguides.

[0016] Furthermore, the N first transmission waveguides are arranged at intervals in a first direction, the first coupling part is located on one side of the first transmission waveguide group, the first direction is perpendicular to the substrate surface, and the first driver is used to drive the first coupling part to move in the first direction.

[0017] Furthermore, the switching waveguide also includes a connecting portion, through which the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are optically connected to each other.

[0018] Further, the first transmission waveguide includes a coupled first transmission segment and a first coupling segment, and the extension direction of the first coupling segment is parallel to the extension direction of the first coupling segment; and / or, the second transmission waveguide includes a coupled second transmission segment and a second coupling segment, and the extension direction of the second coupling segment is parallel to the extension direction of the second coupling segment.

[0019] Furthermore, the optical coupling between the first coupling part and the corresponding first transmission waveguide is direct optical coupling, and the optical coupling between the second coupling part and the second transmission waveguide is also direct optical coupling.

[0020] Furthermore, the first projection of the first transmission waveguide on the substrate surface intersects with the second projection of the second transmission waveguide on the substrate surface.

[0021] Furthermore, the third projection of the switching waveguide on the substrate surface is located around the intersection of the first projection and the second projection.

[0022] Furthermore, the first projection of the first transmission waveguide on the substrate surface does not intersect with the second projection of the second transmission waveguide on the substrate surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the first transmission waveguide is an input waveguide, and the second transmission waveguide is an output waveguide; or, the first transmission waveguide is an output waveguide, and the second transmission waveguide is an input waveguide.

[0024] Secondly, this application also provides an optical switching system, which is an optical switch matrix composed of multiple optical switches, wherein the optical switches are the optical switches described in any embodiment of the first aspect, and the multiple optical switches are disposed on a substrate.

[0025] Furthermore, the optical switching system is a (P×N)×M optical switch matrix. The optical switching system includes P×M optical switches, P×N first I / O ports, and M second I / O ports. The first transmission waveguide group of each optical switch includes N first transmission waveguides. The N first transmission waveguides of the M optical switches in the same row are connected one-to-one and sequentially coupled to form N first waveguides. Each first waveguide has a first I / O port. The P second transmission waveguides in the same column are sequentially coupled to form second waveguides. Each second waveguide has a second I / O port. P and M are both integers, P≥2, and M≥2.

[0026] Thirdly, this application also provides an optical switching system, comprising:

[0027] A (P×N)×M optical switch matrix is ​​disposed on a substrate. The optical switch matrix includes P groups of first waveguides and M second waveguides. Each group of first waveguides includes N independent first waveguides. The projection of each second waveguide on the substrate surface intersects with the projection of the P groups of first waveguides on the substrate surface. The intersection of the projection of each second waveguide with the projection of the N first waveguides in the same group corresponds to one optical switch as in any embodiment of the first aspect. The first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion adjacent to the intersection constitute the first transmission waveguide and the second transmission waveguide of the optical switch, respectively.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] In the optical switch provided by the technical solution of this application, a switching device is used at each switching node to control the optical switching between one transmission waveguide and multiple other transmission waveguides. That is, optical switching between more channels is achieved through one switching device. Therefore, the same scale of optical switching system can be achieved with fewer switching devices, thereby reducing the number of required switching devices, reducing the chip area, and shortening the channel length to reduce transmission loss.

[0030] The optical switching system provided by the technical solution of this application has the same effects as the aforementioned optical switch due to the use of the aforementioned optical switch, which will not be elaborated further here. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one of the architectures of an optical switching system;

[0032] Figure 2 is a second schematic diagram of the architecture of an optical switching system;

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical switch provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the optical switch shown in Figure 3 perpendicular to the Y direction;

[0035] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a coupling state of the optical switch provided in the embodiment of Figure 3;

[0036] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another coupling state of the optical switch provided in the embodiment of Figure 3;

[0037] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical switch provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the optical switch shown in Figure 7 perpendicular to the X direction;

[0039] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a coupling state of the optical switch provided in the embodiment of Figure 7;

[0040] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another coupling state of the optical switch provided in the embodiment of Figure 7;

[0041] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical switch provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an optical switching system provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0043] Figure label:

[0044] 11-First waveguide; 12-Second waveguide; 13-Intersection point; 14-Switching device;

[0045] Z - First direction; X - Second direction; Y - Third direction; XOY - Auxiliary plane;

[0046] 100 - Substrate; 110 - First transmission waveguide group; 111 - First transmission waveguide; 1111 - First transmission segment; 1112 - First coupling segment;

[0047] 120 - Second transmission waveguide; 1201 - Second transmission section; 1202 - Second coupling section;

[0048] 130 - Crossover group; 131 - Crossover;

[0049] 140 - Switching device; 141 - First driver; 142 - Second driver; 143 - Switching waveguide; 1431 - First coupling part; 1432 - Second coupling part; 1433 - Connecting part; 1433a - Connecting arm; 1433b - Fixed section. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0051] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0052] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, various specific examples of processes and materials are provided in this application, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0054] As in the background art, existing optical switching system layout schemes have a large number of switching devices, large chip size, and higher transmission loss.

[0055] The technical solution of this application provides an optical switch and optical switching system, wherein the optical switch selectively connects the second transmission waveguide 120 to any first transmission waveguide 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110, or disconnects the optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide 120 and each of the first transmission waveguides 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110, so that one switching device 140 can control the optical switching between one second transmission waveguide 120 and N first transmission waveguides 111. Therefore, an optical switching system of the same scale can be achieved with fewer switching devices 140, thereby reducing the number of switches required, thereby reducing the chip area and shortening the channel length to reduce transmission loss.

[0056] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and beneficial effects of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Please refer to Figures 3 to 6. In one embodiment provided by this application, an optical switch is disposed on a substrate 100. The optical switch includes a first transmission waveguide group 110, a second transmission waveguide 120, and a switching device 140.

[0058] The first transmission waveguide group 110 includes N first transmission waveguides 111, and any two first transmission waveguides 111 are independent of each other, where N is an integer and N≥2. The switching device 140 is configured to selectively connect the second transmission waveguide 120 to any one of the first transmission waveguides 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110, or to disconnect the optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide 120 and each of the first transmission waveguides 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110.

[0059] Taking a cross-laid switch matrix as an example, in the switch matrix composed of optical switches in this application, the N first transmission waveguides 111 of the second transmission waveguide group 120 correspond to N I / O ports respectively. As shown in Figure 3, when the optical signal transmitted in the second transmission waveguide 120 needs to be output from a certain I / O port corresponding to the first transmission waveguide group 110, the optical signal in the second transmission waveguide 120 can be transmitted to the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111 through the switching device, so as to switch the optical signal from the second transmission waveguide 120 to the I / O port corresponding to the first transmission waveguide 111 for output. When the optical signal transmitted in the second transmission waveguide 120 needs to be output from other I / O ports outside the first transmission waveguide group 110, the switching device 140 is turned off to cut off the optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide 120 and each of the first transmission waveguides 111 of the first transmission waveguide group 110, so that the optical signal can continue to be transmitted along the second transmission waveguide 120 to other switching nodes.

[0060] Thus, optical signals can be switched between more channels using a single switching device 140. The same scale of optical switching system can be achieved using fewer switching devices 140, thereby reducing the required number of switching devices 140, which in turn reduces chip area and shortens channel length to reduce transmission loss.

[0061] In some embodiments of this application, the switching device 140 includes a switching waveguide 143, a first driver 141, and a second driver 142. The switching waveguide 143 includes a first coupling portion 1431 and a second coupling portion 1432 that are optically connected to each other, and is independent of the first transmission waveguide 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120. The first driver 141 is used to drive the first coupling portion 1431 close to any of the first transmission waveguides 111 to optically couple the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111, and to drive the first coupling portion 1431 away from the first transmission waveguide group 110 to optically decouple it from each of the first transmission waveguides 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110. The second driver 142 is independent of the first driver 141 and is used to drive the second coupling portion 1432 close to the second transmission waveguide 120 to optically couple the second transmission waveguide 120, and to drive the second coupling portion 1432 away from the second transmission waveguide 120 to optically decouple it from the second transmission waveguide 120.

[0062] Specifically, referring to Figures 5 and 6, when an optical signal needs to be transmitted between the second transmission waveguide 120 and a certain first transmission waveguide 111 of the first transmission waveguide group 110, the first driver 141 drives the first coupling part 1431 to move closer to the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111, thereby shortening the distance between the first coupling part 1431 and the first transmission waveguide 111, so that the first coupling part 1431 and the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111 are optically coupled. The second driver 142 drives the second coupling part 1432 to move closer to the second transmission waveguide 120, thereby shortening the distance between the second coupling part 1432 and the second transmission waveguide 120, so that the second coupling part 1432 and the second transmission waveguide 120 are optically coupled. In this embodiment, the optical coupling between the first coupling part 1431 and the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111 is direct optical coupling, and the optical coupling between the second coupling part 1432 and the second transmission waveguide 120 is also direct optical coupling, such as evanescent coupling, adiabatic coupling, etc.

[0063] When the second transmission waveguide 120 does not need to transmit optical signals with any of the first transmission waveguides 111 of the first transmission waveguide group 110, the first driver 141 drives the first coupling portion 1431 away from all the first transmission waveguides 111 to increase the spacing between the first coupling portion 1431 and all the first transmission waveguides 111, thereby optically decoupling the first coupling portion 1431 from all the first transmission waveguides 111. The second driver 142 drives the second coupling portion 1432 away from the second transmission waveguide 120 to increase the spacing between the second coupling portion 1432 and the second transmission waveguide 120, thereby optically decoupling the second coupling portion 1432 from the second transmission waveguide 120.

[0064] It should be understood that direct optical coupling between waveguide a and waveguide b means that waveguide a and waveguide b are close to each other, causing the optical fields in the two waveguides to interact, thereby achieving the transfer of optical energy between the two waveguides. Optical decoupling between waveguide a and waveguide b means that waveguide a and waveguide b are far apart, so that the optical fields in the two waveguides do not interact, thereby preventing the transfer of optical energy between the two waveguides.

[0065] In some embodiments, each first transmission waveguide 111 corresponds to a first coupling position, and each second transmission waveguide 120 corresponds to a second coupling position. The distances between the first coupling position and the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111, and between the second coupling position and the second transmission waveguide 120, are both small, enabling the optical coupling efficiency between the switching waveguide and the transmission waveguide to be greater than or equal to 80%, for example, greater than 90%. Correspondingly, each first transmission waveguide group 110 corresponds to a first decoupling position, and each second transmission waveguide 120 corresponds to a second decoupling position. The distances between the first decoupling position and the first transmission waveguide 111, and between the second decoupling position and the second transmission waveguide 120, are both large, enabling the optical coupling efficiency between the switching waveguide and the transmission waveguide to be less than 10%, or even 0. For example, to achieve conduction between the target first transmission waveguide 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120 in the first transmission waveguide group 110, the first coupling part 1431 can be driven to the first coupling position corresponding to the target first transmission waveguide 111, and the second coupling part 1432 can be driven to the second coupling position, thereby achieving conduction between the target first transmission waveguide 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120. Similarly, to cut off optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide 120 and the first transmission waveguide group 110, the first coupling part 1431 can be driven to move to the first decoupling position, and the second coupling part 1432 can be driven to move to the second decoupling position.

[0066] In this embodiment, the switching waveguide 143 further includes a connecting portion 1433, through which the first coupling portion 1431 and the second coupling portion 1432 are optically connected. In Figure 3, the connecting portion 1433 includes two connecting arms 1433a and a fixed section 1433b connecting the two connecting arms 1433a. The two connecting arms 1433a are respectively connected to the first coupling portion 1431 and the second coupling portion 1432. When the first coupling portion 1431 and the second coupling portion 1432 are driven to move, the two connecting arms 1433a can deform accordingly, causing the first coupling portion 1431 and the second coupling portion 1432 to reach the target position. Thus, the state switching of the first coupling portion 1431 and the second coupling portion 1432 is independent and does not affect each other. Figure 3 only shows one form of the connecting portion 1433 as an example; in other embodiments, the connecting portion 1433 can also be other forms of waveguides, which are not limited here. Similarly, the driver in Figure 3 is only an example, and this application does not limit the type of driver.

[0067] Referring again to Figures 4 to 6, in some embodiments of this application, N first transmission waveguides 111 are arranged at intervals in a first direction, and a first coupling portion 1431 is located on one side of the first transmission waveguide group 110. A first driver 141 is used to drive the first coupling portion 1431 to move in the first direction. The first direction is the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 100. Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section of the optical switch in this embodiment perpendicular to the Y-axis direction. The second direction is the Y-axis direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 100. The third direction X is perpendicular to both the first direction Z and the second direction Y, illustrating a positional relationship between the substrate 100, the first transmission waveguide 111, the second transmission waveguide 120, and the switching device. Schematively, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the first coupling position corresponding to each first transmission waveguide 111 is located on the side of the corresponding first transmission waveguide 111. When it is necessary to connect the second transmission waveguide 120 to one of the first transmission waveguides 111, the first driver 141 drives the first coupling part 1431 to move along the first direction Z, and finally stops at the target first coupling position. This target first coupling position is determined by the first transmission waveguide 111 that needs to be connected. For example, if the first first transmission waveguide 111 (the first transmission waveguide 111 closest to the substrate 100) is the target first transmission waveguide 111, then the first driver 141 drives the first coupling part 1431 to move to the target first coupling position corresponding to the first first transmission waveguide 111, as shown in Figure 5. If the third first transmission waveguide 111 (the third first transmission waveguide 111 determined along the Z-axis direction) is the target first transmission waveguide 111, then the first driver 141 drives the first coupling part 1431 to move to the target first coupling position corresponding to the third first transmission waveguide 111, as shown in Figure 6. When the second transmission waveguide 120 does not require any of the first transmission waveguides 111 of the first transmission waveguide group 110 to transmit optical signals, the first coupling part 1431 remains at the first decoupling position. This first decoupling position can be located on the same side as the first coupling position, but does not coincide with the first coupling position. For example, it can be located between the surface of the substrate 100 and the first coupling position of the first transmission waveguide, or between two other first coupling positions, or it can be located along the X direction, parallel to the first coupling position and away from the first transmission waveguide 111. There is no limitation on this.

[0068] In this embodiment, during optical decoupling, the first driver 141 does not drive the first coupling part 1431, allowing the first coupling part to be in a naturally released state. The driver does not need to operate, thus reducing energy consumption. In other embodiments, during optical decoupling, the first driver can also drive the first coupling part to move to the first decoupling position.

[0069] The optical switch provided in this application embodiment can achieve the switching between any one of the N first transmission waveguides 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120 using a single switching device. For example, a single switching device 140 can achieve optical switching between one second transmission waveguide 120 and three or four first transmission waveguides 111. Compared with existing methods that require N switches to achieve optical switching between N first transmission waveguides 111 and second transmission waveguides 120, the number of switching devices is significantly reduced, thereby greatly reducing the chip size and transmission loss.

[0070] Please refer to Figures 7 to 10. In another embodiment of this application, two first transmission waveguides 111 are used for illustrative purposes. Unlike the previous embodiment, in this embodiment, the first coupling portion 1431 is located between the two first transmission waveguides 111, and the first driver 141 is used to drive the first coupling portion 1431 to move between the two first transmission waveguides 111. The second coupling portion can be located on the side of the second transmission waveguide, or above or below it. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical switch shown in Figure 7 in the direction perpendicular to the X-axis, illustrating a positional relationship between the substrate 100, the first transmission waveguide 111, the second transmission waveguide 120, and the switching waveguide 143. The vertical positional relationship between the switching waveguide 143, the first transmission waveguide 111, and the second transmission waveguide 120 can also be designed according to actual conditions. For example, the switching waveguide 143 and the second transmission waveguide 120 can be located in the same waveguide layer or in different waveguide layers.

[0071] Schematic illustration, referring to Figures 9 and 10, shows that each of the two first transmission waveguides 111 has a corresponding first coupling position, namely first coupling position A and first coupling position B. In this embodiment, first coupling position A and first coupling position B are located between the two first transmission waveguides 111. When the second transmission waveguide 120 does not need to transmit optical signals with any of the first transmission waveguides 111 of the first transmission waveguide group 110, the first coupling part 1431 is located between the first coupling position A and the first coupling position B, that is, the first decoupling position is located between the two first coupling positions. When it is necessary to connect the second transmission waveguide 120 with one of the first transmission waveguides 111, the first driver 141 drives the first coupling part 1431 to move to the first coupling position A or the first coupling position B as needed to connect the second transmission waveguide 120 with the target first transmission waveguide 111.

[0072] The optical switch provided in this application embodiment enables the conduction and disconnection between any one of the two first transmission waveguides 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120 through one switching device. Compared with the existing situation that requires two switches, the number of switching devices 140 is reduced by half, the chip size is reduced, and the transmission loss is further reduced.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the first transmission waveguide 111 includes a coupled first transmission segment 1111 and a first coupling segment 1112, and the extension direction of the first coupling portion 1431 is parallel to the extension direction of the first coupling segment 1112; and / or, the second transmission waveguide 120 includes a coupled second transmission segment 1201 and a second coupling segment 1202, and the extension direction of the second coupling portion 1432 is parallel to the extension direction of the second coupling segment 1202, so as to achieve higher coupling efficiency. Both the first transmission segment 1111 and the second transmission segment 1201 are used to transmit light. Schematively, as shown in Figure 9, if the first transmission waveguide 111 is the input waveguide and the second transmission waveguide 120 is the output waveguide, when the first coupling segment 1112 is optically coupled to the first coupling part 1431, the input light is transmitted from the first transmission segment 1111 to the first coupling segment 1112, then coupled from the first coupling segment 1112 to the first coupling part 1431, and transmitted to the second coupling part 1432. Then, it is coupled from the second coupling part 1432 to the second coupling segment 1202 of the second transmission waveguide 120 and output from the second transmission segment 1201, thereby switching the input light from the first transmission waveguide 111 to the output of the second transmission waveguide 120.

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, the first projection of the first transmission waveguide 111 on the surface of the substrate 100 intersects with the second projection of the second transmission waveguide 120 on the surface of the substrate 100. The projections of the N first transmission waveguides 111 onto the surface of the substrate 100 along a third direction may be completely overlapping, partially overlapping, or non-overlapping; all of these projections are considered first projections. The third projection of the switching waveguide 143 on the surface of the substrate 100 is located around the intersection of the first and second projections. Specifically, as shown in Figures 7, 9, and 10, when there are two first transmission waveguides 111, the third projection partially overlaps with both the first and second projections.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, the first projection of the first transmission waveguide 111 on the surface of the substrate 100 and the second projection of the second transmission waveguide 120 on the surface of the substrate 100 may not intersect. Schematably, as shown in FIG11, both the first transmission waveguide 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120 are curved waveguides, and their projections on the surface of the substrate 100 do not intersect. The positional relationship between the switching waveguide 143 and each of the first transmission waveguides 111 and the second transmission waveguides 120 can be set with reference to the above embodiments.

[0076] Embodiments of this application also provide an optical switching system, which is an optical switch matrix composed of optical switches provided in any of the above embodiments, with multiple optical switches disposed on a substrate 100. Indicatively, the optical switch matrix can be a (P×N)×M optical switch matrix, where P and M are both integers, P≥2, and M≥2.

[0077] Specifically, the optical switching system includes P×M optical switches, P×N first I / O ports, and M second I / O ports. Each optical switch's first transmission waveguide group 110 includes N first transmission waveguides 111. The N first transmission waveguides 111 in the first transmission waveguide group 110 of the M optical switches in the same row are corresponding one-to-one and sequentially coupled to form N first waveguides, each with a first I / O port. The P rows of these optical switches have a total of P×N first waveguides, each connected to one of the P×N first I / O ports. The P second transmission waveguides 120 in the same column are sequentially coupled to form second waveguides, each with a second I / O port. The M columns of these optical switches have a total of M second waveguides, each connected to one of the M second I / O ports. It should be noted that the rows and columns here are relative orientation concepts; after rotating the placement orientation of the optical switch system, it can be viewed as an M-row × P-column optical switch matrix.

[0078] Taking the cross-matrix topology shown in Figure 12 as an example, the optical switching system provided in this embodiment includes a (P×N)×M optical switch matrix disposed on a substrate 100. The optical switch matrix includes P groups of first waveguides and M second waveguides. Each group of first waveguides includes N independent first waveguides. The projection of each second waveguide onto the surface of the substrate 100 intersects with the projection of the P groups of first waveguides onto the surface of the substrate 100 to obtain a cross-point 131. All cross-points 131 form a cross-point group 130. The intersection of the projection of each second waveguide with the projection of the N first waveguides in the same group corresponds to one optical switch as described in any of the above embodiments. The first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion adjacent to the intersection point respectively constitute the first transmission waveguide 111 and the second transmission waveguide 120 of the optical switch. The optical switches are disposed around the cross-points 131 of the first and second waveguides, with a total of P×M cross-points 131 to form a cross-point group 130. It should be noted that the intersection point 131 here refers to the position where N first waveguides and one second waveguide in the same group intersect.

[0079] As shown in Figure 12, assuming that light input from the i-th second I / O port needs to be output from the j-th first I / O port in the second group, the optical switch at the intersection 131 of the second row and the i-th column is controlled. This causes the first driver 141 in the optical switch to drive the first coupling part 1431 closer to the j-th first transmission waveguide 111, and controls the second driver 142 to drive the second coupling part 1432 closer to the second transmission waveguide 120 in the second column. This achieves conduction between the j-th first waveguide in the second row and the second waveguide in the i-th column. Thus, light input from any second I / O port and output from any first I / O port only requires switching the optical path through a single optical switch.

[0080] The optical switching system provided in this application shortens the length of the transmission waveguide between the input port and the output port, reducing transmission loss. On the other hand, each channel only needs to be switched by an optical switch once, reducing optical loss caused by multiple optical path switching.

[0081] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0082] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of an optical switch and optical switching system provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are merely for the purpose of helping to understand the technical solutions and core ideas of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An optical switch, characterized in that, The optical switch is disposed on the substrate, and the optical switch includes: The first transmission waveguide group includes N first transmission waveguides, where any two first transmission waveguides are independent of each other, N is an integer, and N≥2; One second transmission waveguide; A switching device is configured to selectively connect the second transmission waveguide to any one of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group, or to disconnect the optical transmission between the second transmission waveguide and each of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group.

2. The optical switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The switching device includes: A switching waveguide, independent of the first transmission waveguide and the second transmission waveguide, the switching waveguide includes a first coupling section and a second coupling section that are optically connected to each other; A first driver is configured to drive the first coupling portion close to any of the first transmission waveguides to optically couple the corresponding first transmission waveguide, and to drive the first coupling portion away from the first transmission waveguide group to optically decouple it from each of the first transmission waveguides in the first transmission waveguide group. The second driver is independent of the first driver. The second driver is used to drive the second coupling part closer to the second transmission waveguide to optically couple the second transmission waveguide, and to drive the second coupling part away from the second transmission waveguide to optically decouple it from the second transmission waveguide.

3. The optical switch as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The number of the first transmission waveguides is two, and the first coupling part is located between the two first transmission waveguides. The first driver is used to drive the first coupling part to move between the two first transmission waveguides.

4. The optical switch as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The N first transmission waveguides are arranged at intervals in a first direction, the first coupling part is located on one side of the first transmission waveguide group, the first direction is perpendicular to the substrate surface, and the first driver is used to drive the first coupling part to move in the first direction.

5. The optical switch as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The switching waveguide also includes a connecting portion, through which the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are optically connected to each other.

6. The optical switch as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The first transmission waveguide includes a coupled first transmission segment and a first coupling segment, and the extension direction of the first coupling segment is parallel to the extension direction of the first coupling segment; and / or, the second transmission waveguide includes a coupled second transmission segment and a second coupling segment, and the extension direction of the second coupling segment is parallel to the extension direction of the second coupling segment.

7. The optical switch as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The optical coupling between the first coupling part and the corresponding first transmission waveguide is direct optical coupling, and the optical coupling between the second coupling part and the second transmission waveguide is also direct optical coupling.

8. The optical switch as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first projection of the first transmission waveguide on the substrate surface intersects with the second projection of the second transmission waveguide on the substrate surface.

9. The optical switch as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The third projection of the switching waveguide on the substrate surface is located around the intersection of the first projection and the second projection.

10. The optical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first projection of the first transmission waveguide on the substrate surface does not intersect with the second projection of the second transmission waveguide on the substrate surface.

11. The optical switch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission waveguide is an input waveguide, and the second transmission waveguide is an output waveguide; or, the first transmission waveguide is an output waveguide, and the second transmission waveguide is an input waveguide.

12. An optical switching system, characterized in that, The optical switching system is an optical switch matrix composed of multiple optical switches, wherein the optical switches are optical switches as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and the multiple optical switches are disposed on a substrate.

13. The optical switching system as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The optical switching system is a (P×N)×M optical switch matrix. The optical switching system includes P×M optical switches, P×N first I / O ports, and M second I / O ports. The first transmission waveguide group of each optical switch includes N first transmission waveguides. The N first transmission waveguides of the M optical switches in the same row are connected one-to-one and sequentially coupled to form N first waveguides. Each first waveguide has a first I / O port. The P second transmission waveguides in the same column are sequentially coupled to form a second waveguide. Each second waveguide has a second I / O port. P and M are both integers, P≥2, and M≥2.

14. An optical switching system, characterized in that, include: A (P×N)×M optical switch matrix is ​​disposed on a substrate. The optical switch matrix includes P groups of first waveguides and M second waveguides. Each group of first waveguides includes N independent first waveguides. The projection of each second waveguide on the substrate surface intersects with the projection of the P groups of first waveguides on the substrate surface. The intersection of the projection of each second waveguide with the projection of the N first waveguides in the same group corresponds to one optical switch as described in any one of claims 1 to 8. The first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion adjacent to the intersection constitute the first transmission waveguide and the second transmission waveguide of the optical switch, respectively.

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