US 6,983,087 B1
Cascading optical switch multi-plane system and method
Dinesh Maheshwari, Fremont, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose, Calif. (US)
Filed on May 24, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/155,774.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/26 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 385—16 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cascaded optical switch system comprising:
a plurality of cascaded optical switches that form a cascaded optical switch fabric and direct an optical signal beam from one of said plurality of cascaded optical switches to another of said plurality of cascaded optical switches in the same plane, wherein said plurality of cascaded optical switches include grating light valve (GLV) switches;
a plurality of multi-plane directional devices that direct said optical signal beam to said plurality of cascaded optical switches in a different plane; and
an optical switch support member for supporting said plurality of cascaded optical switches in a cascaded configuration that is compatible with directing said optical signal beam within the boundaries of said cascaded optical switch fabric, said optical switch support member coupled to said plurality of cascaded optical switches.