Scalable micromechanical Optical Cross Connects

In this current period of rapid growth in communications networks, there is a clear need to upgrade the optical layer from a purely transport function. This paradigm change will first manifest its self as the dynamic provisioning and restoration of optical channels. These functions require switching of optical channels such as may be implemented by an optical cross connect (OXC). Opticalcrossconnects using free space micro-mechanical beam steering will be presented. The scalability and performance, including bit rate independence, of these systems will be described.