Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength selective switch (100), comprising an input array (102) of optical fibers. The array (102) comprises two or more columns of fibers that are spatially offset in one or both of a switching dimension or a dispersive dimension of the wavelength selective switch (100). Each column (102A, 102B) of fibers is adapted to project respective optical beams. A switching engine (112) is positioned to receive the optical beams and apply an angular switching to the beams to direct the beams to respective output fibers. The optical beams are encoded at respective angles or polarization states such that each column of optical beams is incident onto a different region of the switching engine (112).

Abstract: Described herein is a wavelength selective switch (100), comprising an input array (102) of optical fibers. The array (102) comprises two or more columns of fibers that are spatially offset in one or both of a switching dimension or a dispersive dimension of the wavelength selective switch (100). Each column (102A, 102B) of fibers is adapted to project respective optical beams. A switching engine (112) is positioned to receive the optical beams and apply an angular switching to the beams to direct the beams to respective output fibers. The optical beams are encoded at respective angles or polarization states such that each column of optical beams is incident onto a different region of the switching engine (112).

Abstract: A liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device includes a silicon substrate and a pair of electrodes including an upper and a lower electrode. The lower electrode is mounted to the silicon substrate and includes a two dimensional array of pixels extending in both a first and second dimension. LCOS device also includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper and lower electrodes and configured to be driveable into a plurality of electrical states by drive signals provided to the pixels of the lower electrode. The pixels are rectangular in profile having longer sides in the first dimension than in the second dimension. Further, the two dimensional array includes a pixel pitch that is greater in the first dimension than in the second dimension.

Abstract: A liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device includes a silicon substrate and a pair of electrodes including an upper and a lower electrode. The lower electrode is mounted to the silicon substrate and includes a two dimensional array of pixels extending in both a first and second dimension. LCOS device also includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper and lower electrodes and configured to be driveable into a plurality of electrical states by drive signals provided to the pixels of the lower electrode. The pixels are rectangular in profile having longer sides in the first dimension than in the second dimension. Further, the two dimensional array includes a pixel pitch that is greater in the first dimension than in the second dimension.

Abstract: Described herein is an optical transmission cross-connect for routing wavelength signals to a bank of directionless transceivers. One embodiment (1) includes an array of four common-port fibers (3) for transmitting and receiving a multiplexed optical signal and an array of sixteen add/drop fibers (5) for receiving and transmitting demultiplexed signals including individual wavelength channels. A dispersive grism (7) simultaneously spatially separates the wavelength channels from the optical signals in a dispersion dimension. A lens (45) focuses each said spatially separated wavelength channel in the dispersion dimension. A Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) device (11) separately manipulates each of the focused spatially separated wavelength channels to selectively steer the wavelength channels in a switching dimension.

Abstract: Described herein is an optical transmission cross-connect for routing wavelength signals to a bank of directionless transceivers. One embodiment (1) includes an array of four common-port fibers (3) for transmitting and receiving a multiplexed optical signal and an array of sixteen add/drop fibers (5) for receiving and transmitting demultiplexed signals including individual wavelength channels. A dispersive grism (7) simultaneously spatially separates the wavelength channels from the optical signals in a dispersion dimension. A lens (45) focuses each said spatially separated wavelength channel in the dispersion dimension. A Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) device (11) separately manipulates each of the focused spatially separated wavelength channels to selectively steer the wavelength channels in a switching dimension.