Plastic-optical-fiber-based photonic switch

Gary J. Grimes; Lee L. Blyler Jr.; Allen L. Larson; Scott E. Farleigh

doi:10.1117/12.51001

1 December 1991 Plastic-optical-fiber-based photonic switch

Gary J. Grimes, Lee L. Blyler Jr., Allen L. Larson, Scott E. Farleigh

Proceedings Volume 1592, Plastic Optical Fibers; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.51001
Event: OE Fiber, 1991, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Polymer waveguide technology was exploited to build a photonic switch with enormous bandwidth capabilities at extremely low cost per path. A 6 X 6 ferroelectric liquid crystal array was used as a switching element to block or transmit light signals between input and output fibers. Visible laser sources, plastic fibers, PIN detectors, and our proprietary polymeric mixing rod couplers were used to construct the switch. The polymeric fibers, couplers, and switching element allowed us to eliminate the need to time division multiplex photonic channels through the switch because the optical paths were no longer costly. This in turn eliminated the electronic buffering and synchronization requirements of the switch.

Citation Download Citation

Gary J. Grimes, Lee L. Blyler Jr., Allen L. Larson, and Scott E. Farleigh "Plastic-optical-fiber-based photonic switch", Proc. SPIE 1592, Plastic Optical Fibers, (1 December 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.51001

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