GLSUN MEMS 1xN optical switch is based on micro-electro-mechanical system, which uses optical micro mirrors or optical micro-mirror arrays to change the propagation direction of light beam to achieve optical path switching. This 1xN MEMS Optical Switch is mainly used for DWDM networks, channel monitor and R&D in laboratory.
In the optical fiber communication system, the Optical Switch (OS) is mainly used to realize the physical switching of optical signals or other logical operations in the optical path, and is mostly used in the optical cross-connect (OXC) technology as a key device for switching the optical path.
Types of Optical Switches
According to the number of input and output ports of the optical switch, it can be divided into 1x1, 1x2, 1xN , 2x2, 2xN, MxN, etc. Thus optical switch has one or more transmission windows for different uses in different occasions.
Classified from the manufacturing process, optical switches can be divided into mechanical optical switches, thermo-optical switches, acousto-optical switches, electro-optical switches, magneto-optical switches, liquid crystal optical switches and MEMS optical switches, etc. Among them, mechanical optical switches and MEMS optical switches are two widely used optical switches.
The mechanical/optomechanical switch may be regarded as the oldest type of optical switches. The working principle of the mechanical optical switch is to redirect the optical signal by physically moving the optical fiber with the aid of a mechanical device. By moving the prism or the directional coupler, the light at the input end is directed to the required output port. There are three main types of mechanical optical switches: one is to use prism to switch the optical path technology, the other is to use mirror switching technology, and the third is to switch the optical path by moving optical fibers. Read more on All-Optical Switches: MEMS vs Mechanical Switches in Fiber Optical Network.
MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) is a micro device or system integrating micro-machinery, micro-actuator, signal processing and control circuits, etc. Micro-mechanical structures are prepared by photo-lithography, ion beam etching, chemical etching, wafer bonding, etc., while electrodes are prepared on the mechanical structure for electronic control. Traditional switches with electricity as the core technology gradually lag behind the demand for high speed and large capacity optical communication, which gave rise to all-optical switches in the market. Among them, MEMS optical switches are widely used featuring compact size, low power consumption and good expansibility.
Advantages of MEMS Optical Switches
Featuring main advantages of integration, low power consumption and low cost, MEMS optical switches can realize the overall remote control of all-optical network. MEMS optical switches combine the advantages of mechanical optical switches, such as low insertion loss, low crosstalk, low polarization sensitivity, high extinction ratio, and the advantages of waveguide optical switches, such as high switching speed, compact size and easy integration. The performance of MEMS optical switches can meet the technical requirements of DWDM all-optical network. MEMS devices have high single-batch yield, good economical efficiency, and good repeatability between devices, providing more possibilities for reducing system costs. Read more on Applications of MEMS Optical Switch.
GLsun fiber optical switches are available in wide range of MEMS, Magneto ultra-fast mechanical optical switches and optical switch modules. The applications of optical switches for requires an optical shutter in the 1500-1600 nm range.
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| GLsun M1x2 Optical Switch |
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| GLsun M1x2 Optical Switch |
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| GLsun M1x2 Optical Switch |
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| GLsun M1x2 Optical Switch |
