Ultra-High-Capacity Optical Communications and Networking: Surface-Tension-Driven Liquid Space Optical Switching (SLISOS) Systems

超高容量光通信和网络：表面张力驱动的液体空间光开关（SLISOS）系统

• 批准号: 0123478
• 负责人: Jung-Hoon Lee
• 金额: $ 34.79万
• 依托单位: Northwestern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-10-01 至 2004-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0123478&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ultra; Capacity; Optical; Communications; Networking

This proposal was submitted in response to the solicitation NSF 01-65 on "Ultra-High Capacity Optical Communications and Networking." This proposal deals with an innovative liquid space optical switching (LISOS) method based on surface-tension-driven microfluidics. The final goal of this research targets ultra high capacity, e.g., 1024x1024, optical cross connect switching systems. Some of the featured aspects of performance include fast switching time (~ 100s), low insertion loss (~ 0.2 dB), low crosstalk (~ 40dB), low power consumption (~ 10W per switch), inherent latching function (i.e., no continuous power), and reversible switching action. This technology will enable next generation ultra high-speed optical communication at a very low cost.As the signal traffic for optical fiber communication rapidly increases, all-optical switching technology without opto-electronic conversion is considered the ultimate goal. The conventional switching scheme using optical-electrical-optical signal conversion simply cannot follow the high signal rate (e.g., GHz - THz range) requirement for next generation network communication. The use of micromachined mirrors for the direct switching of light signals, which eliminates the signal conversion process, has been a major alternative to the conventional approach. However, the extension of the micromirror approach to ultra high capacity optical cross connect is facing the fundamental limits in loss characteristics and manufacturing costs (labor and time). The use of thermal-bubble-actuated index matching liquid has been recently proposed as an alternative to the micromirror-based approach. The actuation characteristic, however, is not desirable due to large, continuous power requirement. Furthermore, the thermal stability requirement of the liquid restricts the choices of optically optimum working liquids.In this research, surface tension - a dominant force in microscale fluid motion - is proposed as an actuation mechanism for LISOS. The novel electrical and mechanical control of surface tension (Electrowetting and Mechanical Wetting) are used as microactuation mechanisms with extremely low power consumption, reliable operation, and high speed actuation. The proposed team, combining microfluidics technology with the photonics capability, will design, fabricate, and test a surface-tension-driven LISOS system (SLISOS) suitable to the high volume, high speed requirement of the emerging optical communication requirements with the aforementioned performance.

该提案是为了响应关于“超高容量光通信和网络”的 NSF 01-65 号征集而提交的。该提案涉及基于表面张力驱动微流体的创新液体空间光学开关（LISO）方法。本研究的最终目标是超高容量，例如 1024x1024 光交叉连接交换系统。性能的一些特色方面包括快速开关时间（约 100 秒）、低插入损耗（约 0.2 dB）、低串扰（约 40dB）、低功耗（每个开关约 10W）、固有锁存功能（即无连续功率）和可逆开关动作。该技术将以极低的成本实现下一代超高速光通信。随着光纤通信的信号流量迅速增加，无需光电转换的全光交换技术被认为是最终目标。使用光电信号转换的传统切换方案根本无法满足下一代网络通信的高信号速率（例如GHz-THz范围）要求。使用微机械镜直接切换光信号，消除了信号转换过程，已成为传统方法的主要替代方案。然而，微镜方法向超高容量光学交叉连接的扩展面临着损耗特性和制造成本（劳动力和时间）的根本限制。最近有人提出使用热气泡驱动的折射率匹配液体作为基于微镜的方法的替代方案。然而，由于需要大量的连续功率，致动特性并不理想。此外，液体的热稳定性要求限制了光学最佳工作液体的选择。在这项研究中，表面张力——微尺度流体运动的主导力——被提议作为LIOS的驱动机制。表面张力的新型电气和机械控制（电润湿和机械润湿）被用作微驱动机构，具有极低的功耗、可靠的操作和高速驱动。拟议的团队将微流体技术与光子学能力相结合，设计、制造和测试表面张力驱动的LIOS系统（SLISOS），该系统适合新兴光通信要求的大容量、高速度要求，并具有上述性能。