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We describe a novel optical configuration for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based beam-steering optical crossconnect. It incorporates 4-F imaging optics to relay light to the MEMS chip. This makes the system more tolerant to fiber-microlens misalignment. The use of a relay plus Fourier lens and patterned mirror removes the skew angle on the MEMS array and reduces the maximum angle for the MEMS mirror. A prototype 110 × 110 crossconnect employing imaging optics was constructed to validate the approach. This achieved a mean fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 2.9 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Describes a 64 × 64 beam steering optical cross connect constructed using surface micromachined mirrors. It used a curved mirror as a Fourier transform element and to fold the optical system. Both micromechanical switches mirror arrays are fabricated on a single chip and packaged in a single package. The switch fabric size, at 100×120×20 mm, is compatible with mounting on a standard circuit card. The cross connect achieves a mean fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 1.9 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This letter describes a 238×238 beam-steering optical cross connect constructed using surface micromachined mirrors. Its innovative optical configuration resulted in superior optical performance, achieving a mean fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 1.33 dB and a maximum insertion loss for all 56 644 connections of 2 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]