optical switch definition of optical switch in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

optical switch

An all-optical fiber-optic switching device that maintains the signal as light from input to output. Traditional switches that connect optical fiber lines are electro-optic. They convert photons from the input side to electrons internally in order to do the switching and then convert back to photons on the output side.

Although some vendors call electro-optical switches "optical switches," true optical switches support all transmission speeds. Unlike electronic switches, which are tied to specific data rates and protocols, optical switches direct the incoming bitstream to the output port no matter what the line speed or protocol (IP, ATM, SONET) and do not have to be upgraded for any such changes. Optical switches may separate signals at different wavelengths and direct them to different ports.

Using tiny mirrors that reflect the input signal to the output port, MEMS technology is expected to be the prevailing method for building optical switches, also known as "photonic switches." There are various fabrication methods for building MEMS mirrors. See MEMS and transparent network.

MEMS-based Optical Switch

MEMS mirrors reflect the input signal to an output port without regard to line speed or protocol. This technology is expected to be the dominant method for building photonic switches.

MEMS Mirrors

An individual mirror in a MEMS-based switch can really fit through the proverbial "eye of a needle."

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No references found	The new MEMS device, which integrates electrical circuitry and mechanical structures, achieves a switching speed of one millisecond, the fastest of any multi-channel optical switch to date. Fujitsu develops high-speed multichannel optical switch based on MEMS ... by EDP Weekly's IT Monitor An optical switch test solution utilizes multiple low-cost BERT testers generating streams that are multiplexed with DWDM equipment and transmitted to the optical switch. A new generation of optical testing emerges by Whittington, Brad / Communications News Optical Switch will demonstrate the new module at NFOEC 2001 in Booth #6153 at the Baltimore Convention Center, July 8-12, 2001. OPTICAL SWITCH DEMONSTRATES INDUSTRY'S FIRST TRANSPARENT COMPACTPCI ... by EDP Weekly's IT Monitor	optical rotation optical rotatory dispersion optical scanner Optical Scanning optical sensing Optical Sensitization optical sight optical smoke detector optical sound head optical sound recorder optical sound reproducer optical spectra optical spectrograph optical spectrometer optical spectroscope optical spectroscopy Optical Spectrum optical spherical surface Optical Square optical staining optical storage Optical Storage Technology Association optical superposition principle optical surface Optical surfaces optical switch optical system Optical Systems, Design Methods for optical tape storage Optical Theorem Optical Thickness Optical Time Domain Reflectometer Optical Time Domain Reflectometry optical tracking optical train optical transition optical tweezers optical twinning optical type font Optical Variable Stars optical waveguide optical window optical zoom optical-fiber amplifier optical-fiber cable optical-fiber sensor optical-path difference optical-pulse compression optical-righting reflex optical-to-optical interface device Optically Active Substance	Optical storage Optical Storage And Retrieval Optical Storage Collection and Retrieval Optical Storage Compressed Audio Replay Optical Storage International Optical storage library Optical storage media Optical storage media Optical Storage System Optical Storage Technology Association Optical Storage Technology Association Optical Strength Meter Optical Sub-Carrier Multiplexed Optical Subassemblies Optical Submarine Communications By Aerospace Relay Optical Subnetwork Connection Protection Optical Subrack Optical Super Density Optical SuperComputing optical superposition principle Optical Supervisory Channel Optical Supervisory Channel Protocol optical surface optical surface optical surface optical surface Optical surfaces Optical Surveillance Measure Optical Surveillance System optical switch Optical Switch Module Optical Switch Technology Optical switching Optical Switching and Routing Protocol Optical Switching Energy Optical system Optical system Optical system Optical Systems and Technology Laboratory Optical Systems, Design Methods for Optical table Optical table optical tape storage Optical Target Acquisition & Cueing Optical Target Designation Computer Optical Technologies in Motion for the Ist Program Optical Technology Project Optical Technology Research Laboratory Optical Technology Special Interest Group Optical Technology Training Ltd Optical telegraph Optical telegraph Optical telegraph Optical Telemetry System optical telescope optical telescope Optical Telescope Assembly Optical Telescope Assembly Simulator Optical Telescope Element Optical telescopes

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The new MEMS device, which integrates electrical circuitry and mechanical structures, achieves a switching speed of one millisecond, the fastest of any multi-channel optical switch to date.

Fujitsu develops high-speed multichannel optical switch based on MEMS ... by EDP Weekly's IT Monitor

An optical switch test solution utilizes multiple low-cost BERT testers generating streams that are multiplexed with DWDM equipment and transmitted to the optical switch.

A new generation of optical testing emerges by Whittington, Brad / Communications News

Optical Switch will demonstrate the new module at NFOEC 2001 in Booth #6153 at the Baltimore Convention Center, July 8-12, 2001.

OPTICAL SWITCH DEMONSTRATES INDUSTRY'S FIRST TRANSPARENT COMPACTPCI ... by EDP Weekly's IT Monitor

optical rotation

optical rotatory dispersion

optical scanner

Optical Scanning

optical sensing

Optical Sensitization

optical sight

optical smoke detector

optical sound head