Abstract

High bandwidth, short distance, data communication requirements such as encountered in computer and avionic systems can be well served by fiber optics. The many advantages of optical data transmission such as high fanout, low interchannel crosstalk, low weight, insensitivity to electromagnetic interference, and high data rate make this technology very attractive for these applications. One critical component that is required for many applications is a crossbar switch. Previous approaches have involved all-optical directional coupler switch matrices,¹ integrated arrays of detectors using current summing to drive output lasers,² and optoelectronic integrated circuits with electrical switching and optical to electronic and electronic to optical conversion.³

© 1990 Optical Society of America