Optical data communication using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) micro-mirror arrays

摘要

Embodiments of an optical data communication apparatus using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) micro-mirror arrays is described herein. The apparatus may include a router configured to operate as a relay to exchange optical data signals between optical switches of the apparatus. The optical switches may be configured to switch between reflection directions to reflect the optical signals over different optical connections between the optical switches and different receiving ports of the router. The reflection directions may be switched in accordance with predetermined mappings between the receiving ports of the router and destinations of the optical signals. The router includes a MEMS micro-mirror array configured to reflect received optical signals to the destinations. A processing element of the optical data switching circuitry may generate a plurality of optical data signals and may send the optical data signals to an optical switch of the optical data switching circuitry.