John E Golub

US Patent:

6694073, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

Apr 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/120869

Inventors:

John E. Golub - Atlanta GA
David A. Smith - Cleveland OH
Harry Presley - Jonesboro GA
Zhuoyu Bao - Norcross GA

Assignee:

Movaz Networks, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 18

Abstract:

An optical cross connect, especially a wavelength cross connect, using free-space optics, a diffraction grating, and a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) array of movable mirrors. A concentrator receives light from widely separated optical fibers and brings the beams together into a more closely spaced linear array. Free-space optics process all the beams. Front-end optics collimate the beams from the fibers and flatten their fields. The diffraction grating spectrally separates each beam into sub-beams. A long-focus lens focuses the sub-beams onto the 2-dimensional MEMS array. A fold mirror reflectively couples two such mirrors, whereby the switched signals propagate back through the same optics and are spectrally recombined onto the fibers. Other embodiments include white-color cross connects, multiple MEMS arrays, and parallel optics. Power dividers or wavelength interleavers can divide signals from the fibers, and multiple cross connects switch different wavelength groups.

US Patent:

6798941, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Sep 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/957312

Inventors:

David A. Smith - Atlanta GA
John E. Golub - Atlanta GA
Fariborz Farhan - Alpharetta GA

Assignee:

Movaz Networks, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 18, 385 19

Abstract:

A multi-wavelength or white-light optical switch including an array of mirrors tiltable about two axes, both to control the switching and to provide variable power transmission through the switch, both for optimization and for power equalization between wavelength channels in a multi-wavelength signal. The output power of a channel is monitored, thereby allowing feedback adjustment of the transmitted power. The mirrors are preferably formed in a micro electromechanics system array to be tiltable in orthogonal directions and having electrostatically controlled tilting by two pairs of electrodes beneath the mirrors. Input power of the separate channels may also be monitored.

US Patent:

6810165, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Jan 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/764702

Inventors:

John E. Golub - Atlanta GA
David A. Smith - Cleveland OH
Harry Presley - Jonesboro GA
Zhuoyu Bao - Norcross GA

Assignee:

Movaz Networks, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G02B 6026

US Classification:

385 18, 359333

Abstract:

An optical cross connect, especially a wavelength cross connect, using free-space optics, a diffraction grating, and a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) array of movable mirrors. A concentrator receives light from widely separated optical fibers and brings the beams together into a more closely spaced linear array. Free-space optics process all the beams. Front-end optics collimate the beams from the fibers and flatten their fields. The diffraction grating spectrally separates each beam into sub-beams. A long-focus lens focuses the sub-beams onto the 2-dimensional MEMS array. A fold mirror reflectively couples two such mirrors, whereby the switched signals propagate back through the same optics and are spectrally recombined onto the fibers. Other embodiments include white-color cross connects, multiple MEMS arrays, and parallel optics. Power dividers or wavelength interleavers can divide signals from the fibers, and multiple cross connects switch different wavelength groups.