We have developed a highly stable electro-optic KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) deflector by enhancing electron transportation through KTN crystal. The amount of current is increased with 405-nm light irradiation to rapidly generate a stable refractive-index change, which induces deflection. The deflection angle is set at 160 mrad within tens of seconds and is kept at that angle for 3,000 hours. The developed deflector has been applied to a wavelength-swept light source to measure the thickness of Si wafers with a 3.6-mm optical length. The precision of 0.1-μm has been continuously achieved corresponding to the stability of the KTN deflector.
For practical application, 3D-MEMS optical switch modules should be a mechanical-vibration-proof and have good temperature characteristics and good electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). To satisfy these fundamental environmental characteristics of optical switch modules, we examine a design technique of vibration-proof mechanism, a structure of fixing mechanism for optical I/O device and a module structure considered for EMC performances. We evaluated the fundamental environmental characteristics of a prototype optical switch module. In results, we confirmed that the switching module satisfies the Telcordia GR-63 office vibration test due to application of vibration-proof mechanism. The structure of fixing mechanism for optical I/O devices enabled the reduction of error in optical axis alignment. We also show that the CISPR 22 and CISPR24 are satisfied for EMC performance in this prototype. The evaluation results confirm that the 3D MEMS optical switch module is suitable for practical use.
This paper describes improvements made to a single-crystal mirror actuated electrostatically by terraced electrodes with a high-aspect ratio torsion spring. The improvements are reduced mirror pitch, increased mirror size, and higher stability from the electrical viewpoint.
The design and characteristics of a 3D MEMS mirror array and a compact optical fiber array as well as the free-space optical cross connect (OXC) switch module comprising them are presented.
Summary form only given. Fiber termination modules (FTMs), which terminate both subscriber and office-equipment cables and cross connect between these cables, are one of the most important equipment in optical access networks. For future optical access networks that employ fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) architecture, it is important to lower the total cost, including the operational cost for cross-connecting at FTMs. Compactness and high reliability are also required for FTMs. To satisfy these requirements, automated cross-connecting switches are crucial. In this paper a new configuration for a large-scale automated fiber cross-connecting switch, which is capable of cross connecting between more than 4000 subscriber cables and 4090 office-equipment cables, is proposed.
The end-faces of optical fibers must be kept clean because unclean end-faces can cause communication errors.When optical fibers are to be connected to each other, their end-faces are cleaned and inspected using two different devices in two separate time-consuming steps.First, a fiber cleaner is used to clean each end-face, and then a microscope is used to inspect each end-face.To simplify this process, we developed a device that integrates the cleaner and the microscope into a single tool, making it possible to perform both the cleaning and inspection in a single operation without having to change tools.
