Optical MEMS and MOEMS for telecommunications

摘要

This article will present the technologies and markets trends, as well as the latest R&D developments, in MEMS and MOEMS for optical telecom. Today, the MEMS technology has found the optical telecommunication market as a new "killer applications" (following the IT, automotive and medical markets). This overview will describe the current state-of-the art in MEMS manufacturing for optical functions in optical networks. Switching is a crucial function in the future all-optical networks and MEMS and MOEMS are ideal candidates for this. After an over-estimation of the needs in optical switching in 2000, components manufacturers are today targeting market where low and medium size switches are needed. In this article, a specific focus on switching will be made with comparison between the MEMS technology and others switching technologies (thermo-optical, LC, holography ...). The current industrial offer for MEMS (3D, 2D and 1D) will be described. The presentation will also give market figures and forecast for MEMS and MOEMS in optical telecom.