公开(公告)号：US5317658A

公开(公告)日：1994-05-31

申请号：US864293

申请日：1992-04-06

申请人： Glenn D. Bergland ,  John V. Camlet ,  Saul J. Einbinder ,  Walter M. Pitio ,  Robert C. Pritchard ,  George J. Shevchuk ,  Donald D. Shugard

发明人： Glenn D. Bergland ,  John V. Camlet ,  Saul J. Einbinder ,  Walter M. Pitio ,  Robert C. Pritchard ,  George J. Shevchuk ,  Donald D. Shugard

IPC分类号： G02B6/34 ,  G02B6/35 ,  G02B6/26

CPC分类号： G02B6/2773 ,  G02B6/272 ,  G02B6/3546 ,  G02B6/3592

摘要： An apparatus and method are disclosed for implementing a polarization-independent optical switch wherein switchable communication signals are retained in the optical mode while being switched between optical links in an optical communication network. The polarization-independent optical switch comprises polarization-dependent components which are advantageously arranged to switch arbitrary polarized light waves. The polarization-independent optical switch is achieved by splitting incoming arbitrary polarized light waves into two paths, a light wave with a TE radiation component and a light wave with a TM radiation component. The light wave with the TE radiation component is converted to a light wave with a TM radiation component. Both light waves having the TM radiation component are then switched in a polarization-dependent photonic switch device. The arbitrary light waves are recovered from the optical switch by converting one of the switched light waves having the TM radiation component to a light wave having the TE radiation component. The light wave with this TE radiation component is combined with the remaining switched light wave having the TM radiation component in a polarization combiner. As the polarization of the input light waves vary, more or less of the light wave energy will pass through the first path of the optical switch or the second path of the optical switch. The total amount of light wave energy through the optical switch, however, will remain relative constant.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于实现偏振无关光学开关的装置和方法，其中可切换通信信号在光学模式下被保持，同时在光通信网络中的光链路之间切换。 偏振无关光学开关包括偏振相关分量，其有利地布置成切换任意偏振光波。 偏振无关的光开关通过将入射的任意偏振光波分成两个路径，具有TE辐射分量的光波和具有TM辐射分量的光波来实现。 具有TE辐射分量的光波被转换成具有TM辐射分量的光波。 然后，在偏振相关的光子开关装置中切换具有TM辐射分量的两个光波。 通过将具有TM辐射分量的切换光之一转换成具有TE辐射分量的光波，从光开关中恢复任意的光波。 具有该TE辐射分量的光波与在偏振组合器中具有TM辐射分量的剩余切换光波组合。 随着输入光波的偏振变化，或多或少的光波能量将通过光开关的第一路径或光开关的第二路径。 然而，通过光学开关的光波能量的总量将保持相对恒定。