A device (e.g., a photonic multiplexer) is provided that includes a plurality of first switches. Each first switch in the plurality of first switches includes a plurality of first channels. Each first switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of first channels by zero or more channels, based on first configuration information provided to the first switch. The device further includes a plurality of second switches. Each second switch includes a plurality of second channels. Each second channel is coupled with a respective first channel from a distinct first switch of the plurality of first switches. Each second switch is configured to shift photons in the plurality of second channels by zero or more channels, based on second configuration information provided to the second switch.

A LIDAR or other optical beamsteering apparatus includes an optical switch having a first port and a plurality of second ports. The switch is operated to establish an optical path between the first port and one of the second ports. The first port is connected to a light source or a light detector. Different second ports are connected to different surface/edge couplers. Each of the surface/edge couplers couples light from or to the apparatus in a different respective direction. The surface/edge couplers can be grating couplers. The direction of light coupling is configured due to the orientation of the surface/edge coupler and its grating period, where applicable. Surface/edge couplers can be arranged in a circular or concentric ring pattern. Grating couplers can be elongated.

A steerable optical transmit and receive terminal includes a MEMS-based N1 optical switch network. Each optical switch in the optical switch network uses an electrostatic MEMS structure to selectively position a translatable optical grating close to or far from an optical waveguide. In the close (ON) position, light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide, whereas in the far (OFF) position, no appreciable light couples between the translatable optical grating and the optical waveguide. The translatable optical grating is disposed at or near a surface of the optical switch network. Thus, the translatable optical grating emits light into, or receives light from, free space. The steerable optical transmit and receive terminal also includes a lens and can steer a free space optical beam in a direction determined by which port of the N1 optical switch network is ON.

An optical membrane switch device includes a first membrane layer, a second membrane layer, and a spacer layer. The first membrane layer includes a first surface and light input lines. The light input lines are disposed on the first surface. Each light input line is slantingly extended with first branch lines. The second membrane layer includes a second surface and light output lines. The light output lines are disposed on the second surface. Each light output line is slantingly extended with second branch lines. The second branch lines respectively extend to the corresponding first branch lines to form contact regions. The spacer layer is clamped between the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer and includes through holes respectively corresponding to the contact regions. The first and second branch lines corresponding to the through holes at least partially overlap each other and keep a preset interval from each other.

An optical membrane switch device includes a first membrane layer, a second membrane layer, and a spacer layer. The first membrane layer includes a first surface and light input lines. The light input lines are disposed on the first surface. Each light input line is slantingly extended with first branch lines. The second membrane layer includes a second surface and light output lines. The light output lines are disposed on the second surface. Each light output line is slantingly extended with second branch lines. The second branch lines respectively extend to the corresponding first branch lines to form contact regions. The spacer layer is clamped between the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer and includes through holes respectively corresponding to the contact regions. The first and second branch lines corresponding to the through holes at least partially overlap each other and keep a preset interval from each other.

An RF transmit signal is modulated onto an optical carrier to form a transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC). The TMOC is split into N transmit modulated optical subcarriers (TMOS). Each TMOS is respectively processed in one of N transmit optical channels (TOCs). In each TOC, RF antenna beam steering operations are performed by optical tuning the TMOS to selectively control a phase difference between the optical carrier and the optical sideband. A different selected phase difference can be applied in each TOC. The TMOS from each of the N TOCs is then processed to obtain N RF signals for driving an antenna array. In the receive direction, M received RF signals from M antenna elements are modulated respectively onto M optical subcarriers to form M receive modulated optical subcarriers (RMOS). RF antenna beam steering operations are performed by optical tuning the RMOS.

A wavelength selective switch, including: an optical fiber array, an optical signal processing device and an output selection device. The optical fiber array includes multiple dual-core optical fibers arranged in parallel, one dual-core optical fiber being used for inputting two optical signals; the optical signal processing device is located at an output end of the optical fiber array and is used for splitting the two optical signals into sub-signals of different wavelengths and projecting the sub-signals of different wavelengths to different spectral band regions in the output selection device; and the output selection device is located at the rear end of the optical signal processing device, and is used for processing the sub-signals projected to the spectral band regions, so as to respectively perform output selection on the sub-signals split from two optical signals, thereby achieving a dual-switch function.

An undersea fiber optic cable routing architecture including a branching unit coupled to three trunk cables capable of switching individual fibers in each fiber pair within a cable to either of the other two cables. The branching unit comprises a plurality of optical switches and a controller for receiving remote command signals and configuring the optical switches in accordance with the remote command signals.

This application discloses an optical switch and an optical switching system. Both a first waveguide and a second waveguide of the optical switch are immovable relative to a substrate and are located in a first plane. A first deformable waveguide is also located in the first plane. A first section of the first deformable waveguide is fixed relative to the substrate, and a second section other than the first section can deform under control of a first actuator. When the first deformable waveguide is in a first state, the first deformable waveguide is optically decoupled from the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a through state. When the first deformable waveguide is in a second state, the first deformable waveguide is optically coupled to the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and the optical switch is in a drop state.

A LIDAR or other optical beamsteering apparatus includes an optical switch having a first port and a plurality of second ports. The switch is operated to establish an optical path between the first port and one of the second ports. The first port is connected to a light source or a light detector. Different second ports are connected to different surface/edge couplers. Each of the surface/edge couplers couples light from or to the apparatus in a different respective direction. The surface/edge couplers can be grating couplers. The direction of light coupling is configured due to the orientation of the surface/edge coupler and its grating period, where applicable. Surface/edge couplers can be arranged in a circular or concentric ring pattern. Grating couplers can be elongated.