Optical self-routing switch using integrated laser diode optical switch

A 2*2 optical self-routing switch using integrated laser diode optical switches is proposed. The switch is composed of a Benes network, which can perform large-scale switching functions using less hardware than a crossbar switch. The path each data stream takes through the interconnection network is determined by the binary bits of its destination address, and self-routing is accomplished by monitoring terminal voltage changes in gain guides induced by input optical signals which are injected into a p-n junction. Concentrated control is not necessary, and large optical multistage switches can be easily constructed because complicated electrode patterns are not necessary.<
>