Movable Lens Optical Fiber Switch Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber switches are excessively expensive, limiting their adoption in applications where the benefits of multimode optical fiber communication are outweighed by cost considerations.
Innovation Solution
A scalable optical switch design utilizing a movable lens to direct multimode light beams from one fiber to multiple output fibers, allowing for the creation of N×N switches with high flexibility and efficiency, including N2×N and N2×N configurations, while minimizing signal loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional optical fiber switches are used, then optical signal switching capability is achieved, but cost becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive traditional optical switch components with inexpensive lenses that can be easily manufactured and replaced. The lens-based switching mechanism uses simple optical components rather than complex electro-optic or mechanical switch elements, dramatically reducing the cost per switch while maintaining functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical or electro-optic switching mechanisms with a purely optical lens-based system. By using lenses to focus and direct light beams between fibers, the system eliminates the need for expensive mechanical moving parts or complex control electronics, achieving cost reduction while preserving switching reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If multimode optical fiber is used, then light-gathering capacity and connection simplicity are improved, but speed-distance limit is reduced due to modal dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using lenses with specific focal properties at different positions in the optical path. The lenses are positioned and sized to optimally focus light from the multimode fiber core to the output fiber, compensating for modal dispersion effects locally at each switching point rather than requiring uniform system-wide changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses modal dispersion by introducing spatial dimensionality control through lens positioning. By precisely controlling the lateral position of lenses relative to the fiber axes, the system can selectively focus different spatial modes of light, effectively managing modal dispersion through spatial filtering and mode selection rather than being limited by the inherent multimode propagation characteristics.
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
The solution provides a low-cost, efficient method for switching multimode optical fibers, enabling cost-effective implementation in various applications such as data centers and optical component testing, with minimal signal loss and flexibility in switch configurations.
Implementation Method 1
Light from an input fiber is focused by a lens which is moved in an x-y direction perpendicular to the beam direction
Data Source
AI summary
A scalable optical switch especially useful for switching multimode beams carried by optical fibers. Light from an input fiber is focused by a lens which is moved in an x-y direction perpendicular to the beam direction in order to switch the beam from one output fiber to a different fiber. In preferred embodiments the beam can be directed to any one of as many as 90 output fibers. Techniques for scaling the switch to produce N×N switches with N being large are described. Embodiments of the present invention can also be utilized to create more elaborate fiber optical switches such as an N×N switch and a N2×N switch.