Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS
Abstract
In this article, we are presenting an overview of MEMS-based (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) optical switch technology starting from the reflective two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) MEMS implementations. To further increase the speed of the MEMS from these devices, the mirror size needs to be reduced. Small mirror size prevents efficient reflection but favors a diffraction-based approach. Two implementations have been demonstrated, one using the Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing), and the other an LCoS-based (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) SLM (Spatial Light Modulator). These switches demonstrated the benefit of diffraction, by independently achieving high speed, efficiency, and high number of ports. We also demonstrated for the first time that PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation format can be used with diffraction-based devices. To be truly effective in diffraction mode, the MEMS pixels should modulate the phase of the incident light. We are presenting our past and current efforts to manufacture a new type of MEMS where the pixels are moving in the vertical direction. The original structure is a 32 x 32 phase modulator array with high contrast grating pixels, and we are introducing a new sub-wavelength linear array capable of a 310 kHz modulation rate
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States). College of Optical Sciences
- Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF); Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1418644
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0015178; EEC-0812072; PFI:AIR-TT 1640329
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Applied Sciences
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 7; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 2076-3417
- Publisher:
- MDPI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; MEMS; MOEMS; diffraction; optical switch; data-communication
Citation Formats
Blanche, Pierre-Alexandre, LaComb, Lloyd, Wang, Youmin, and Wu, Ming. Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.3390/app7040411.
Blanche, Pierre-Alexandre, LaComb, Lloyd, Wang, Youmin, & Wu, Ming. Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS. United States. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040411
Blanche, Pierre-Alexandre, LaComb, Lloyd, Wang, Youmin, and Wu, Ming. Wed .
"Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS". United States. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7040411. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1418644.
@article{osti_1418644,
title = {Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS},
author = {Blanche, Pierre-Alexandre and LaComb, Lloyd and Wang, Youmin and Wu, Ming},
abstractNote = {In this article, we are presenting an overview of MEMS-based (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) optical switch technology starting from the reflective two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) MEMS implementations. To further increase the speed of the MEMS from these devices, the mirror size needs to be reduced. Small mirror size prevents efficient reflection but favors a diffraction-based approach. Two implementations have been demonstrated, one using the Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing), and the other an LCoS-based (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) SLM (Spatial Light Modulator). These switches demonstrated the benefit of diffraction, by independently achieving high speed, efficiency, and high number of ports. We also demonstrated for the first time that PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation format can be used with diffraction-based devices. To be truly effective in diffraction mode, the MEMS pixels should modulate the phase of the incident light. We are presenting our past and current efforts to manufacture a new type of MEMS where the pixels are moving in the vertical direction. The original structure is a 32 x 32 phase modulator array with high contrast grating pixels, and we are introducing a new sub-wavelength linear array capable of a 310 kHz modulation rate},
doi = {10.3390/app7040411},
journal = {Applied Sciences},
number = 4,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Wed Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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