Wavelength Selective Switch with Liquid Crystal Beam Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wavelength selective switches in Intelligent Optical Networks have a limited number of ports, leading to increased complexity in network management and power consumption, as they cannot flexibly switch optical signals of different wavelengths between incidence and exit ports.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength selective switch device with an incidence unit, exit unit, wavelength diversifying-synthesizing unit, light adjustment unit, liquid crystal beam deflection unit, and reflection unit, which allows optical signals of various wavelengths to be output from any exit port, increasing port numbers and enabling flexible bandwidth adjustment through phase-shift characteristics of pixels in sub-regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a 1×N wavelength selective switch with fixed ports is used, then the device structure is simple, but the number of ports is limited and cannot meet the needs of high-dimensional network systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional 1×N single-plane port structure into an N×M multi-plane port structure by introducing a second dimension of port arrangement. The incidence unit and exit unit are arranged in different spatial dimensions, allowing multiple incident lights and emergent lights to coexist without increasing device complexity proportionally. This dimensional transformation enables the wavelength selective switch to support high-dimensional network systems with significantly increased port capacity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of wavelength selective switches is increased to meet higher dimensional network needs, then the network capacity increases, but the network management complexity and power consumption increase accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wavelength selective switch functions into a single N×M port device. By integrating multiple incident lights and emergent lights handling capabilities into one unified device, the system reduces the total number of separate wavelength selective switches needed in the network. This consolidation directly reduces network management complexity and overall power consumption while maintaining or enhancing network capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a MEMS-based wavelength selective switch is used, then the switching speed is fast, but the bandwidths of optical signals of different wavelengths are fixed and not adjustable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth adjustment capability by allowing flexible configuration of which wavelengths from incident lights are directed to which emergent lights. The system can dynamically reconfigure wavelength routing based on network demands, transforming the fixed bandwidth characteristics of traditional MEMS switches into dynamically adjustable bandwidth allocation. This enables flexible switching that adapts to varying network requirements while maintaining fast switching speeds.
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 significantly increases the number of ports and allows flexible bandwidth adjustment, enhancing the management and efficiency of optical signals in Intelligent Optical Networks, reducing power consumption and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal beam deflection unit having a plurality of pixels arranged in a same plane and divided into sub-regions corresponding to the respective wavelengths in the incident lights and the emergent lights, respectively, for deflecting the lights of the respective wavelengths received from the light adjustment unit or the reflecting lights of the respective wavelengths by changing phase-shift characteristics of the pixels in the sub-regions
Implementation Method 2
a reflection unit, disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal beam deflection unit, for reflecting the lights of the respective wavelengths deflected in the corresponding sub-regions for the incident lights to the corresponding sub-regions for the emergent lights so as to be deflected
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a wavelength selective switch device, a communication apparatus and a wavelength switching method. The wavelength selective switch device includes an incidence unit; an exit unit; a wavelength diversifying-synthesizing unit for diversifying and multiplexing the respective incident lights in a first axis direction; a light adjustment unit for making the lights of respective wavelengths be not diversified in the second axis direction; a liquid crystal beam deflection unit having a plurality of pixels divided into sub-regions, for deflecting the lights of the respective wavelengths by changing phase-shift characteristics of the pixels in the sub-regions; a reflection unit, disposed in parallel with the liquid crystal beam deflection unit; a deflection driving unit for driving electrodes of the pixels to generate required phase-shift characteristics.