Deformable Waveguide Optical Switch for Microsecond Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical switches face challenges in achieving microsecond-level switching speed with low insertion loss and a large number of ports while maintaining low costs, primarily due to limitations in mechanical vibration eigenfrequency and coupling efficiency, which affect performance and application scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The optical switch design incorporates a first and second immovable waveguide with a deformable waveguide that changes its status through deformation, rather than mechanical movement, driven by an actuator, to achieve microsecond-level switching speed and low insertion loss, using a comb actuator or parallel-plate electrostatic actuator to control the coupling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional MEMS optical switch uses a micro reflector structure, then the insertion loss is low and crosstalk is reduced, but the switching speed is limited to millisecond level due to low rotation speed of the micro reflector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rotation of micro reflectors with an all-optical switching mechanism using waveguide coupling. The movable suspended coupler deflects in-plane to couple light between waveguides through optical field interaction rather than mechanical reflection, eliminating the need for high-speed mechanical rotation while achieving microsecond-level switching speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable suspended coupler that can dynamically deflect between different positions to control light coupling. This dynamic structure allows the system to switch between through state and drop state by adjusting the coupler position, enabling fast switching without the limitations of fixed mechanical reflector rotation.
2Speed
If a silicon-based waveguide optical switch uses thermo-optic effect, then the switching speed reaches microsecond level, but the insertion loss is high because the refractive index changes slightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable suspended coupler as an intermediary element that facilitates light coupling between waveguides. This coupler acts as a mediator that enables efficient optical field interaction, allowing light to be coupled from one waveguide to another with minimal loss, thereby solving the high insertion loss problem of traditional thermo-optic switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the mechanical deflection of the movable suspended coupler to control optical coupling. By deflecting the coupler in-plane, the system dynamically adjusts the coupling efficiency between waveguides, enabling fast switching without relying on slow thermo-optic effects while maintaining low insertion loss through optimized mechanical positioning.
3Productivity
If the optical switch matrix is formed by cascading MZI structures, then large-scale switching is achieved, but the insertion loss increases rapidly with the increase in dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical switching function into independent crosspoint units, each containing waveguides and a movable suspended coupler. This segmentation allows each unit to operate independently with optimized coupling, preventing the cumulative insertion loss that occurs in cascaded MZI structures while still enabling large-scale switching capacity through modular expansion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances switching speed, reduces insertion loss, and improves optical switch performance by leveraging deformation to control coupling efficiency, thereby enabling a microsecond-level switching speed with a large number of ports and low costs.
Implementation Method 1
A conventional MEMS optical switch is usually based on an electrostatic-actuation micro reflector structure
Implementation Method 2
a deformable waveguide, where a part other than a first part of the deformable waveguide that is fixed to the substrate can deform under control of a first actuator
Implementation Method 3
Two waveguides cross each other and a movable suspended coupler is located at the cross-over, such that on activation, the light propagating in one of the waveguides is coupled into the second waveguide
Implementation Method 4
using a comb actuator or parallel-plate electrostatic actuator to control the coupling efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses an optical switch and an optical switching system. Both a first waveguide and a second waveguide of the optical switch are immovable relative to a substrate and are located in a first plane; a first deformable waveguide is also located in the first plane, a first section of the first deformable waveguide is fixed relative to the substrate, and a second section other than the first section can deform under control of a first actuator; when the first deformable waveguide is in a first state, the first deformable waveguide is optically decoupled from the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a through state; and when the first deformable waveguide is in a second state, the first deformable waveguide is optically coupled to the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a drop state. According to the optical switch in this application, the first section of the first deformable waveguide is fixed, and a remaining section deforms by virtue of toughness of the optical waveguide, so as to change a status of the optical switch. In this way, a weight carried by the actuator can be reduced, and a switching speed of the optical switch can be increased.