An Optical Cross-Connect Switch Based on Micro-Bubbles

An all optical cross-connect for communications networks is presented here. Optical switching is accomplished in a planar silica lightwave circuit where the switching array matrix is defined by a system of intersecting waveguides. Small microchannels are fabricated at the waveguide intersection and are filled with an index matched liquid. Microbubbles are thermally manipulated to allow light to be either transmitted or reflected by total internal reflection. The physics associated with the bubble behavior and the requirements of a reliable package present a slew of challenges for the mechanical engineer.