Wavelength add-drop switching using tilting micromirrors

This paper describes a single-mode optical fiber switch which routes indivi dual signals into and out of a wavelength multiplexed data stream without i nterrupting the remaining channels, The switch uses free-space optical wave length multiplexing and a column of micromechanical tilt-mirrors to switch 16 channels at 200 GHz spacing from 1531 to 1556 nm, The electrostatically actuated tilt mirrors use an 80 V peak-to-peak 300 KHz sinusoidal drive sig nal to switch between +/-10 degrees with a 20 mu s response. The total fibe r-to-fiber insertion loss for the packaged switch is 5 dB for the passed si gnals and 8 dB for added and dropped signals, with 0.2 dB polarization depe ndence. Switching contrast was 30 dB or more for all 16 channels and all in put and output states. We demonstrate operation by switching 622 Mb/s data on eight wavelength channels between the two input and output ports with ne gligible eye closure.