Design and tolerancing comparisons for S-SEED-based free-space switching fabrics

Frederick B. McCormick Jr.; Frank A. P. Tooley; John L. Brubaker; Jose M. Sasian; Thomas J. Cloonan; Anthony L. Lentine; Rick L. Morrison; Randall J. Crisci; Sonya L. Walker; Stephen J. Hinterlong; Michael J. Herron

doi:10.1117/12.60020

1 December 1992 Design and tolerancing comparisons for S-SEED-based free-space switching fabrics

Frederick B. McCormick Jr., Frank A. P. Tooley, John L. Brubaker, Jose M. Sasian, Thomas J. Cloonan, Anthony L. Lentine, Rick L. Morrison, Randall J. Crisci, Sonya L. Walker, Stephen J. Hinterlong, Michael J. Herron

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 31, Issue 12, (December 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60020

Abstract

A series of experiments has been performed to determine the critical practical issues in high-density free-space optically interconnected systems. Some ofthese experiments have implemented switching fabrics by optically interconnecting 2-D arrays of symmetric seif-electro-optic effect devices (S-SEEDs). In the first, three 16 x 8 arrays of S-SEEDs, all operating as logic gates, were optically interconnected, and in the last experiment, afully interconnected switching fabric using six 32 x 32 S-SEED arrays was demonstrated. The practical realization of this technology represents a challenge to modern optomechanics because ofthe required optical resolution, mechanical precision, stability, and number of components involved. A comparison of these experimental systems shows that significant optical power loss may be incurred when theoretically "lossless" techniques are actually implemented, mainly because of the system complexity. The use of much simpler techniques is shown to dramatically decrease system assembly and alignment times and increase system stability, with similar overall loss. The tolerancing analysis used in these systems shows thatthe worst-case optical constraints result in mechanical tolerances in the micrometer to submicrometer range. The successful operation of these systems demonstrates the ability of relatively simple optical and mechanical techniques and materials to meet these tolerances.

Citation Download Citation

Frederick B. McCormick Jr., Frank A. P. Tooley, John L. Brubaker, Jose M. Sasian, Thomas J. Cloonan, Anthony L. Lentine, Rick L. Morrison, Randall J. Crisci, Sonya L. Walker, Stephen J. Hinterlong, and Michael J. Herron "Design and tolerancing comparisons for S-SEED-based free-space switching fabrics," Optical Engineering 31(12), (1 December 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.60020

Published: 1 December 1992

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available