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Abstract

An optical space switch architecture is constructed from electro-optical gate arrays each comprised of a plurality of ultra-high-extinction optical intensity modulators which are in turn fabricated from cascaded directional waveguide coupler sections. Input optical signals are processed by 1-to-N passive splitter circuits for providing interim optical signals which are routed to the optical gtate arrays. Each interim signal is processed by an optical modulator and emerges, depending upon the activation of the particular gate, in either an ON or OFF state. The optical signals emerging from the gate arrays are routed to N-to-1 passive combiner circuits according to a connectivity configuration whereupon the incoming signals are combined before appearing at the output ports of the combiner circuits. Optical amplifiers are incorporated into the splitter and combiner circuits if power compensation is required. The point-to-multipoint connectivity configuration allows each input optical signal to be distributed to all of the output ports if so desired. The switching connections for establishing the desired distribution of the input optical signals among the output ports are implemented by turning ON or OFF the appropriate electro-optic gates in the gate array.

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First Claim