초록 ▼

An M×N wavelength-selective switch (WSS) is provided. M input ports launch M input beams towards a wavelength-dispersing system, which disperses the M input beams into M×K sub-beams at K wavelength bands. A redirecting system redirects the M×K sub-beams towards a first 1×K switching array, which sel

An M×N wavelength-selective switch (WSS) is provided. M input ports launch M input beams towards a wavelength-dispersing system, which disperses the M input beams into M×K sub-beams at K wavelength bands. A redirecting system redirects the M×K sub-beams towards a first 1×K switching array, which selects K sub-beams from the M×K sub-beams. The redirecting system blocks the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams, but re-images the K selected sub-beams onto a second 1×K switching array by means of at least one relaying element having optical power. The second 1×K switching array routes the K selected sub-beams to N output ports. The redirecting system redirects the K selected sub-beams towards the wavelength-dispersing system, which combines any selected sub-beams that are routed to a same output port. The N output ports then output the K selected sub-beams.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An M×N wavelength-selective switch (WSS) comprising: M input ports for launching M input beams, wherein each of the M input beams includes K sub-beams at K wavelength bands, and wherein M and K are integers greater than 1;N output ports for outputting K selected sub-beams at the K wavelength band

1. An M×N wavelength-selective switch (WSS) comprising: M input ports for launching M input beams, wherein each of the M input beams includes K sub-beams at K wavelength bands, and wherein M and K are integers greater than 1;N output ports for outputting K selected sub-beams at the K wavelength bands, wherein N is an integer greater than 1;a wavelength-dispersing system, disposed to receive the M input beams from the M input ports, for dispersing the M input beams into the M×K sub-beams;a redirecting system including at least one relaying element having optical power, wherein the redirecting system is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the wavelength-dispersing system, and is for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a first switching array of K first reflecting elements, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the redirecting system, for selecting the K selected sub-beams from the M×K sub-beams;wherein each of the K first reflecting elements is associated with one wavelength band of the K wavelength bands, is disposed to receive the M sub-beams at that wavelength band, and is for selecting one sub-beam from the M sub-beams at that wavelength band;wherein the redirecting system is also disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, and is also for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams, and for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams by means of the at least one relaying element;a second switching array of K second reflecting elements, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the redirecting system, for routing the K selected sub-beams to the N output ports;wherein each of the K second reflecting elements is associated with one wavelength band of the K wavelength bands, is disposed to receive the selected sub-beam at that wavelength band, and is for routing the selected sub-beam at that wavelength band to one output port of the N output ports;wherein the redirecting system is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second switching array, and is also for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;wherein the wavelength-dispersing system is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the redirecting system, and is also for combining any selected sub-beams that are routed to a same output port of the N output ports; andwherein the N output ports are disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the wavelength-dispersing system. 2. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the K selected sub-beams are not combined by means of a wavelength-dispersing element between the first switching array and the second switching array. 3. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the wavelength-dispersing system includes at least one wavelength-dispersing element, and wherein the at least one wavelength-dispersing element is a transmissive diffraction grating, a reflective diffraction grating, or a combination of a transmissive diffraction grating and a planar mirror. 4. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the at least one relaying element is a spherical lens, a spherical mirror, a cylindrical lens, or a cylindrical mirror. 5. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the first switching array and the second switching array are microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror arrays or liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) arrays. 6. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the wavelength-dispersing system includes: a first wavelength-dispersing element, disposed to receive the M input beams from the M input ports, for dispersing the M input beams into the M×K sub-beams; anda second wavelength-dispersing element for combining any selected sub-beams that are routed to a same output port of the N output ports; and wherein the redirecting system includes: a first redirecting element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first wavelength-dispersing element, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a relaying assembly including the at least one relaying element, wherein the relaying assembly is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, is for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams, and is for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array by means of the at least one relaying element; anda second redirecting element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second switching array, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; wherein the first switching array is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first redirecting element; wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the relaying assembly; and wherein the second wavelength-dispersing element is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second redirecting element. 7. The M×N WSS of claim 6, wherein the relaying assembly includes: a first relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a blocking element, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first relaying element, for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams; anda second relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the blocking element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;wherein the first relaying element and the second relaying element, in combination, are for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array; and wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second relaying element. 8. The M×N WSS of claim 7, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element has a dispersion direction; wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element and the second wavelength-dispersing element are transmissive diffraction gratings or reflective diffraction gratings;wherein the first redirecting element and the second redirecting element are spherical lenses or spherical mirrors having positive optical power;wherein the first relaying element and the second relaying element are cylindrical lenses or cylindrical mirrors having positive optical power in the dispersion direction; andwherein the blocking element is a cylindrical lens or a cylindrical mirror having positive optical power in a direction perpendicular to the dispersion direction. 9. The M×N WSS of claim 7, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element and the second wavelength-dispersing element are transmissive diffraction gratings or reflective diffraction gratings; wherein the first redirecting element, the second redirecting element, the first relaying element, and the second relaying element are spherical lenses or spherical mirrors having positive optical power; andwherein the blocking element is an aperture. 10. The M×N WSS of claim 6, wherein the relaying assembly includes: a first relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a blocking element, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first relaying element, for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams;a second relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the blocking element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;a third relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; anda fourth relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the third relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;wherein the first relaying element, the second relaying element, the third relaying element, and the fourth relaying element, in combination, are for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array; and wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the fourth relaying element. 11. The M×N WSS of claim 10, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element and the second wavelength-dispersing element are transmissive diffraction gratings or reflective diffraction gratings; wherein the first redirecting element, the second redirecting element, the first relaying element, the second relaying element, the third relaying element, and the fourth relaying element are spherical lenses or spherical mirrors having positive optical power; andwherein the blocking element is an aperture. 12. The M×N WSS of claim 6, wherein the relaying assembly includes: a first relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a second relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K selected sub-beams from the first relaying element, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams;a blocking element, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the second relaying element, for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams;a third relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the blocking element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; anda fourth relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the third relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;wherein the first relaying element, the second relaying element, the third relaying element, and the fourth relaying element, in combination, are for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array; and wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the fourth relaying element. 13. The M×N WSS of claim 12, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element has a dispersion direction; wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element and the second wavelength-dispersing element are transmissive diffraction gratings or reflective diffraction gratings;wherein the first redirecting element and the second redirecting element are spherical lenses or spherical mirrors having positive optical power;wherein the first relaying element, the second relaying element, the third relaying element, and the fourth relaying element are cylindrical lenses or cylindrical mirrors having positive optical power in the dispersion direction; andwherein the blocking element is a cylindrical lens or a cylindrical mirror having positive optical power in a direction perpendicular to the dispersion direction. 14. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the wavelength-dispersing system includes: a first wavelength-dispersing element, disposed to receive the M input beams from the M input ports, for dispersing the M input beams into the M×K sub-beams, and for combining any selected sub-beams that are routed to a same output port of the N output ports; and wherein the redirecting system includes: a first redirecting element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first wavelength-dispersing element and to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second switching array, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams, and for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; anda relaying assembly including the at least one relaying element, wherein the relaying assembly is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, is for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams, and is for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array by means of at the least relaying element; wherein the first switching array is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first redirecting element; wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the relaying assembly; and wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the first redirecting element. 15. The M×N WSS of claim 14, wherein the relaying assembly includes: a first relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams, and for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;a blocking element, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first relaying element, for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams;a second relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the blocking element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; anda retroreflector, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;wherein the second relaying element is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the retroreflector;wherein the blocking element is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second relaying element;wherein the first relaying element is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the blocking element; andwherein the first relaying element and the second relaying element, in combination, are for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array; and wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the first relaying element. 16. The M×N WSS of claim 15, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element is a transmissive diffraction grating or a reflective diffraction grating; wherein the first redirecting element, the first relaying element, and the second relaying element are spherical lenses or spherical mirrors having positive optical power;wherein the blocking element is an aperture; andwherein the retroreflector is a pair of perpendicular planar mirrors or a right-angle prism. 17. The M×N WSS of claim 1, wherein the wavelength-dispersing system includes: a first wavelength-dispersing element, disposed to receive the M input beams from the M input ports, for dispersing the M input beams into the M×K sub-beams, and for combining any selected sub-beams that are routed to a same output port of the N output ports; wherein the redirecting system includes: a first relaying element having optical power, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first wavelength-dispersing element, for redirecting the M×K sub-beams, for passing the K selected sub-beams while blocking the (M−1)×K non-selected sub-beams, for re-imaging only the K selected sub-beams onto the second switching array, and for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;a second relaying element, disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first switching array via the first relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams;a retroreflector, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second relaying element via the first relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; anda third relaying element, disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the retroreflector via the first relaying element, for redirecting the K selected sub-beams; wherein the first switching array is disposed to receive the M×K sub-beams from the first wavelength-dispersing element via the first relaying element; wherein the second switching array is disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the third relaying element via the first relaying element; and wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element is also disposed to receive the K selected sub-beams from the second switching array via the first relaying element. 18. The M×N WSS of claim 17, wherein the first wavelength-dispersing element is a reflective diffraction grating or a combination of a reflective diffraction grating and a planar mirror; wherein the first relaying element is a spherical mirror having positive optical power; andwherein the second relaying element, the retroreflector, and the third relaying element are planar mirrors.