MEMS technology for optical interconnect and networking applications

The Internet has brought and keeps bringing an explosion of bandwidth that can only be accommodated through the use of optical networking. At the same time there is an evolution in the network, from static point to point WDM links to future all optical mesh networks, where lightpaths may be quickly switched on demand. This change is forced by the demands of the carriers and their clients for new services such as rapid provisioning or bandwidth-on-demand and by considerations of power, costs, bit rate and protocol transparency. However, optical networking today is severely handicapped by the unavailability of high-performance, low-cost optical components. Developing low-cost methods for fabricating large optical switches and tunable lasers is key towards the realization of the all-optical network vision. MEMS play a crucial role in enabling these devices to be realized. Large-fabric optical switches are one of the key application areas for MEMS, but MEMS technology is also finding its way into small-scale switches, variable optical attenuators, and tunable lasers and filters.