Micromechanical optical switch

Abstract

An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.

1 . An optical system comprising: 
 an edge node operable to electronically buffer an input payload, to frame the input payload with at least a control header, and to convert the framed input payload into a first optical signal, the edge node also operable to communicate the first optical signal over a network;    a demultiplexer coupled to the network and operable to separate the optical signal into a plurality of portions;    one or more detectors operable to receive at least one portion of the first optical signal, at least one of the one or more detectors operable to generate an electrical signal based at least in part on the received portion of the first optical signal;    an electronic processor operable to receive the electrical signal and to perform a processing function on the electrical signal, the electronic processor further operable to modulate at least a portion of the processed electronic signal onto a second optical signal, wherein substantially all of the electronic processor resides on a single semiconductor substrate and wherein the second optical signal is modulated at approximately 100 nanoseconds or less; and    a wavelength division multiplexer operable to receive the second optical signal and to communicate the second optical signal to the network.    
   
   
       2 . The optical system of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical amplifier operable to amplify at least a portion of the first optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier compensates for at least some of the losses in the network.  
   
   
       3 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical signal operates at line rates of approximately OC-48, OC-192, or higher.  
   
   
       4 . The optical system of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical tap coupled to the network and capable of generating two or more copies of the optical signal.  
   
   
       5 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the single semiconductor substrate is silicon or indium phosphide.  
   
   
       6 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the one or more detectors reside on the single semiconductor substrate.  
   
   
       7 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the demultiplexer is selected from the group consisting of a wavelength division multiplexer, a wavelength grating router, and an arrayed wave-guide grating.  
   
   
       8 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the second optical signal is modulated at approximately 10 nanoseconds or less.  
   
   
       9 . The optical system of  claim 1 , wherein the second optical signal is modulated using a device selected from the group consisting of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, a lithium niobate device, a semiconductor optical amplifier, and an electro-absorption modulator.  
   
   
       10 . An optical system comprising: 
 an edge node capable of electronically buffering an input payload, framing the input payload with at least a control header, and converting the framed input payload into a first optical signal, the edge node also operable to communicate the first optical signal over a network comprising at least one signal mode fiber;    a demultiplexer coupled to the network to separate the optical signal into a plurality of portions;    one or more detectors capable of receiving at least one portion of the first optical signal, at least one of the one or more detectors capable of generating an electrical signal based at least in part on the received portion of the first optical signal;    an electronic processor operable to receive the electrical signal and to perform a processing function on the electrical signal, the electronic processor further operable to modulate at least a portion of the processed electronic signal onto a second optical signal, wherein the second optical signal is modulated at approximately 10 nanoseconds or less; and    a wavelength division multiplexer operable to receive the second optical signal and to communicate the second optical signal over the network.    
   
   
       11 . The optical system of  claim 10 , further comprising an optical amplifier operable to amplify at least a portion of the first optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier compensates for at least some of the losses in the network.  
   
   
       12 . The optical system of  claim 10 , wherein the demultiplexer is selected from the group consisting of a wavelength division multiplexer, a wavelength grating router and an arrayed wave-guide grating.  
   
   
       13 . The optical system of  claim 10 , wherein substantially all of the electronic processor resides on a single semiconductor substrate and wherein at least some of the one or more detectors reside on the single semiconductor substrate.  
   
   
       14 . The optical system of  claim 10 , wherein the second optical signal is modulated using a device selected from the group consisting of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, a lithium niobate device, a semiconductor optical amplifier and an electro-absorption modulator.  
   
   
       15 . A method of optical communication, comprising: 
 electronically buffering an input payload;    framing the input payload with at least a control header;    generating a first optical signal for communication over at least a network, wherein the first optical signal comprises the framed input payload;    separating the first optical signal into a plurality of portions;    detecting at least one portion of the first optical signal;    generating an electrical signal based at least in part on the detected portion of the first optical signal;    receiving the electrical signal at an electronic processor, the electronic processor performing a processing function on the electrical signal;    modulating at least a portion of the processed electrical signal onto a second optical signal, wherein substantially all of the electronic processor resides on a single semiconductor substrate and wherein the second optical signal is modulated at approximately 100 nanoseconds or less; and    communicating the second optical signal to the network.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising amplifying at least a portion of the optical signal to compensate for losses in the network.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tapping the network to generate two or more copies of the optical signal.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the separating the optical signal into the plurality of portion is done using a demultiplexer selected from the group consisting of a wavelength division multiplexer, a wavelength grating router, and an arrayed wave-guide grating.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein modulating at least the portion of the processed electrical signal onto the second optical signal is performed using a device selected from the group consisting of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, a lithium niobate device, a semiconductor optical amplifier, and an electro-absorption modulator.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second optical signal is modulated at approximately 10 nanoseconds or less.