Enhanced designs on MEMS L-switching matrix

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) is one of the few commercial platforms for building optical switches. 2D MEMS L-switching matrix has been introduced recently to double the sizes of 2D MEMS crossbar switches. The sizes of switches are mainly limited by the Gaussian signal loss associated path difference. Though the design of L-switching matrix improves system scalability but it suffers internal blocking problem. In this paper, a rearrangeably nonblocking algorithm will be presented. Moreover, two enhanced designs are proposed to improve the overall system performance of the L-switching matrix. They are the staircase switching mechanism and redundant switching system. With the improved internal routing mechanism and enhanced system design, the internal blocking probability can be minimized. Consequently, the L-switching matrix performs similar to an optical switching fabric with widesense nonblocking property. KeywordsMicroElectroMechanical Systems; L-Switching Matrix; internal blocking; rearrangeable nonblocking algorithm; staircase switching; redundant system; wide-sense nonblocking