Optical Cross-Connect Switch Beamforming Rectangular Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical cross-connect switches and wavelength-selective switches face challenges in achieving a high port count and low cost per port due to inefficient use of the active beam-steering area, which is limited by conventional Gaussian beam profiles with diffuse edges and significant gaps between light spots.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of optical beamforming to generate rectangular beam profiles, which increases the optical fill factor by interconverting Gaussian beam profiles into rectangular profiles using a beam transformer, allowing for a higher number of optical ports and lower costs through efficient use of the beam-steering element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional Gaussian beam profiles are used in optical switches, then the beam steering mechanism can operate with simple optics, but the optical fill factor is low due to diffuse edges and gaps between light spots, limiting port count
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the beam profile from a conventional Gaussian shape to a rectangular shape by modifying the intensity distribution parameters. This is achieved through optical beamforming techniques that reshape the beam to have sharp edges and uniform intensity, thereby increasing the optical fill factor and enabling higher port counts in the optical switch
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beamforming optics that operate in the spatial domain to transform the beam profile. By adding this optical processing dimension between the light source and the beam steering element, the system converts Gaussian beams into rectangular beams, effectively utilizing the available aperture area and increasing the number of可同时 steered beams
2Area of stationary object
If conventional Gaussian beam profiles are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the active beam-steering area is underutilized due to diffuse edges and significant gaps between light spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam transformer as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the beam steering device. This beam transformer contains optical components (such as phase modulators or spatial light modulators) that convert the Gaussian beam profile into a rectangular profile, thereby fully utilizing the active beam-steering area while maintaining a modular system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The beam transformer modifies the spatial intensity distribution parameters of the beam, transforming it from a Gaussian profile with diffuse edges to a rectangular profile with sharp boundaries. This parameter transformation maximizes the utilization of the beam-steering surface area and eliminates gaps between adjacent light spots
3Productivity
If rectangular beam profiles are generated through beamforming, then the optical fill factor increases enabling higher port count, but additional beam transformer components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The beam transformer is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only transforms the beam profile from Gaussian to rectangular but also maintains beam quality, controls intensity distribution, and interfaces with the beam steering mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and justifies the added complexity by enabling significantly higher port counts
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming process transforms the beam's spatial intensity distribution from a Gaussian profile to a rectangular profile, creating sharp edges and uniform intensity across the beam width. This parameter change increases the optical fill factor, allowing more beams to be packed into the same aperture area, thereby enabling higher port counts in the optical switch
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 approach enables a wavelength-selective optical router with a higher port count and lower cost per port by optimizing the active area of the beam-steering device, reducing inter-channel crosstalk and improving the packing efficiency of optical ports.
Implementation Method 1
optical beamforming is used to generate desired (e.g., technically beneficial) beam profiles at the beam-steering element of the switch
Implementation Method 2
beam transformer interposed between the array of optical ports and the beam-steering surface and configured to interconvert a first electromagnetic-field pattern of the first side and a second electromagnetic-field pattern of the second side
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of optical elements are further configured to cause the first electromagnetic-field pattern and the second electromagnetic-field pattern to have different relative amounts of spatial overlap between optical beams corresponding to at least one pair of optical ports of the array of optical ports
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an optical cross-connect switch in which optical beamforming is used to generate desired (e.g., technically beneficial) beam profiles at the beam-steering element of the switch. An example beam profile that can be generated in this manner is a substantially rectangular beam profile generated from an input optical beam having a substantially Gaussian beam profile. The use of rectangular beam profiles may be beneficial because such beam profiles can be used to increase the optical fill factor of the beam-steering element of the switch, thereby enabling the switch to have a higher number of optical ports and/or a lower cost per optical port than comparable conventional optical cross-connect switches. In an example embodiment, the disclosed optical cross-connect switch can be used to implement a wavelength-selective optical router.