Multimode Switching Components For Multi-Terminal Links

Richard A. Soref

doi:10.1117/12.956710

21 December 1978 Multimode Switching Components For Multi-Terminal Links

Richard A. Soref

Proceedings Volume 0150, Laser and Fiber Optics Communications; (1978) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956710
Event: 22nd Annual Technical Symposium, 1978, San Diego, United States

Abstract

The use of active components for data distribution in multi-terminal fiber networks is reviewed in this paper. Our approach is to place electro-optic switches at nodes of the network. These signal-routing devices are interconnected by individual strands of multimode fiber. We shall present recent results on multimode switching in the areas of optical data busing, multiplexing, and circuit switching. A new "mirror terminal" has been developed as a low-loss means of coupling information on and off a serial bus, while time-division multi-plexing has been implemented with multipole LiTaO₃ switches. The "optical crossbar" or matrix is a first step toward telecommunication switching. The matrix provides communica-tion between two groups of N terminals. This can also be done with a passive star coupler, but the matrix does not suffer a 1/N power-division loss, it sets up N independent "con-versations" simultaneously, and the circuits can be reconfigured rapidly. Multimode crossbars 3 x 2 in size are now operating in our laboratory. Fiber guides are butt-coupled to the crossbar crystal at an angle in order to collimate the 0.15-NA fiber light in the crossbar.

Citation Download Citation

Richard A. Soref "Multimode Switching Components For Multi-Terminal Links", Proc. SPIE 0150, Laser and Fiber Optics Communications, (21 December 1978); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956710

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