Reconfigurable photonic switch based on a binary system using the white cell and micromirror arrays

Optical cross-connect system based on the White cell and three-state microelectromechanical system: experimental demonstration of the quartic cell

“…A new approach to the OXC problem was previously proposed. 22,23 Our approach is an OXC architecture with a 3D free-space system while still using digital MEMSs, thus allowing a high number of ports with a relative simpler MEMS control system. Our concept is based on the White cell, a system of three spherical mirrors between which light circulates an arbitrary number of times.…”

Optical Cross-Connect Based on the Spherical Fourier Cell

“…For the rows there are possible shifts required between plus and minus , requiring shifts. Since the columns are shifted similarly the total number of shifts required to get a beam to any of the desired locations can be determined using (5) or shifts for an input system. In the case shown, the largest MEMS dimension is 5 (pixels).…”

“…We have earlier proposed and demonstrated a free-space optical cross-connect [5], [6] based on the White cell. Those devices use two-or three-state digital style MEMS, meaning the micromirrors have two or three stable states, and the angle of tilt is determined by mechanical stops, greatly simplifying the MEMS control electronics and alignment constraints.…”

“…The White cell is compact but its size does grow as increases, and the number of MEMS pixels required in the "quartic" version is proportional to [5] . On the positive side, there is redundancy built in since there are many possible paths to a given output, so that if some micromirrors fail the device can still work.…”

“…A binary-style White cell was also described for optical interconnection that uses fewer micromirrors but has no redundancy [5]. This device also requires a number of spot-displacement devices for shifting beams.…”