US 7,321,705 B2
Method and device for optical switching and variable optical attenuation
Edvardas Narevicius, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US); Ilya Vorobeichik, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US); Yoav Berlatzky, Haifa (Israel); and Romanas Narevich, Mountain View, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Optun (BVI) Ltd., Tortola (Virgin Islands (British))
Appl. No. 10/515,768
PCT Filed May 28, 2003, PCT No. PCT/IL03/00444
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Nov. 24, 2004,
PCT Pub. No. WO03/100485, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 04, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/383326, filed on May 28, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/383325, filed on May 28, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0226552 A1, Oct. 13, 2005
Int. Cl. G02B 6/35 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 385—17  [385/16] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical switching device for switching M input signals into N output signals, wherein M and N are each equal to or greater than one, comprising:
a mode division multiplexer to join said M input signals into a first multi-mode signal having M initial mode orders by converting each of said M input signals into a respective one of said M mode orders;
a mode converter to convert said first multi-mode signal into a second multi-mode signal having N converted mode orders; and
a mode division demultiplexer to separate signals on said N mode orders of said second multi-mode signal respectively into said N output signals,
wherein said converter is able to be controllably activated such that said N converted mode orders are separated by said demultiplexer to said N output signals according to a desired scheme.