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Abstract
A completely non-blocking ${\rm{M}} \times {\rm{N}}$ electrically controlled optofluidic matrix switch that uses a ${{1}} \times {{3}}$ optical switch with a V-shaped microchannel as the switching unit is proposed. Its light paths and output ports are selected by a micro-actuator matrix and a control circuit. There are few reports of optofluidic matrix switches. Here the given electrostatic micro-actuator and the basic switch structure provide an effective feasible manner for the matrix switch due to the simple and compact structure as well as the operation style. The impacts of microchannels and intersecting waveguides on the switch performance are discussed, and multiple optimization schemes are proposed to reduce the insertion loss efficiently and significantly. The research results indicate that the ${\rm{M}} \times {\rm{N}}$ matrix switch has the advantages of good matrix controllability, simple structure, wide waveband (400–1700 nm), negligible polarization-dependent loss, small insertion loss, and low cross talk. For 1550 nm wavelength, the insertion loss of a ${{2}} \times {{6}}$ matrix switch is about 0.17–0.55 dB, and the maximum cross talk is less than ${-}{26.8}\;{\rm{dB}}$. In addition, the performance parameters of a ${{4}} \times {{8}}$ matrix switch are given and compared with other reported matrix switches. The proposed ${\rm{M}} \times {\rm{N}}$ matrix switch solves the problem of large insertion loss of general optical matrix switches and can be expanded to a large-scale matrix switch. Moreover, the design of multiple output ports has more flexible applications in systems with multiple branch optical paths and network nodes.
© 2021 Optical Society of America
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