OPTOELECTRONIC CROSS-BAR SWITCHING USING FREE-SPACE OPTICAL-DISTRIBUTION

Free-space optical distribution for a 3 x 3 optoelectronic matrix swit ch in two configurations is demonstrated. Optical splitting is achieve d using an integrated refractive-diffractive element which is a compac t and mass-producible device. The electrical cross talk is -38.1 dB fo r the optical-in/electrical-out configuration and -38.3 for the electr ical-in/electrical-out configuration. The ON-OFF contrast at the photo detectors is -69.5 dB. These results indicate that such an optical dis tribution system is more than adequate for high-speed digital switchin g.