Abstract

Switching networks based on perfect shuffle or Banyan interconnection techniques are useful in parallel processing and telecommunications. The integral components in these networks are the comparison switches that control the routing of data through the network. An acoustooptic comparison switch has been implemented that simplifies control using analog addressing techniques and insures high-bandwidth data transmission by multiplexing the data and the address on orthogonal polarizations of light. The addresses can be easily extracted and processed apart from the data using polarizing beam splitters so that the data transfer can continue at optical data rates. The analog addresses are encoded either as the frequencies of amplitude modulation of the optical carrier or as discrete cw optical power levels. Frequency encoded addresses are compared using frequency detectors typically found in phaselocked loops and power encoded addresses can be photodetected and compared with a simple analog comparator.

© 1991 Optical Society of America