Optical Switch Matrix Phase Control for Fast Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical switch cells have a low reaction speed due to mechanical control instability and long adjustment times, leading to jitter and instability in signal performance during optical signal broadcast.
Innovation Solution
An optical switch matrix with a processor connected via an electric bus to multiple power equalizers and optical switch cells, which split and phase-process optical signals to create phase differences between paths, enabling fast and stable signal output through voltage-controlled phase shifters and power compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical control is used to adjust the prism position in existing MEMS optical switch cells, then the optical signal can be split and broadcast, but the reaction speed is low and signal stability deteriorates due to jitter and long adjustment times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical control system (motor-driven prism positioning) with an all-optical switching mechanism using MEMS mirrors and optical couplers. The optical signal routing is achieved through electrostatic actuation of micro-mirrors rather than mechanical prism rotation, eliminating the jitter and slow response inherent in mechanical systems. This substitution of mechanical control with electro-optical control directly resolves the contradiction between signal stability and reaction speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamically controllable optical couplers that can rapidly switch between different coupling states to direct optical signals to different output ports. The MEMS mirrors provide dynamic beam steering capability with microsecond response times, enabling fast reconfiguration of optical paths without the inertia and friction limitations of mechanical prism rotation. This dynamic control mechanism achieves both high reaction speed and stable signal transmission.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical control adjusts the prism position for optical signal broadcasting, then signal routing is achieved, but adjustment time becomes relatively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical prism rotation entirely and replaces it with electrostatically actuated MEMS mirrors and optically controlled couplers. The electrical actuation of MEMS mirrors provides sub-millisecond response times compared to the hundreds of milliseconds required for mechanical prism adjustment. This mechanical-to-electro-optical substitution directly addresses the time loss issue while maintaining full signal routing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures multiple optical paths and couplers in advance, allowing the system to rapidly switch between predefined routing states. The optical couplers are designed with predetermined coupling ratios and orientations, enabling instant signal redirection without requiring real-time mechanical adjustment. This preliminary configuration approach minimizes adjustment time while preserving comprehensive routing functionality.
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 achieves high reaction speed and stable output signals by performing optical coupling and phase processing to split and route optical signals efficiently, addressing the low reaction speed and instability issues of existing optical switch cells.
Implementation Method 1
a first phase shifter configured to perform phase processing on one path of the optical signals, so that a phase difference exists between the two paths of optical signals
Implementation Method 2
a first optical coupler configured to perform optical coupling processing on an optical signal input from a first input port, to split the optical signal into two paths of optical signals
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses an optical signal control method and apparatus, and an optical switch matrix control method and apparatus. A first optical coupler performs optical coupling processing on an optical signal input from an input port, to split the optical signal into two paths of optical signals; a phase shifter performs phase processing on the two paths of optical signals, so that a phase difference exists between the two paths of optical signals on which phase processing has been performed; and a second optical coupler performs optical coupling processing on the two paths of optical signals between which the phase difference exists, to output an optical signal from a first output port and/or a second output port. In this way, a problem of a low reaction speed of an existing optical switch cell that exists when the optical switch cell implements optical signal broadcast can be resolved.