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Abstract

An optical cross-connect is provided that selectively switches at least one desired optical channel between a pair of optical WDM input signals. The cross-connect includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors. The micro-mirrors tilt or flip between a first and second position in a 'digital' fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A pair of collimators diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on the micro-mirrors onto a plurality of micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. The optical channels have a cross-section (e.g., circular) to project as much of the beam as possible over the greatest number of micro-mirrors, while keeping the optical channels separated by a predetermined spacing. To selectively switch an optical channel between the optical input signals, a group of mirrors associated with each desired optical channel is tilted away from a return path to the second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the group of micro-mirrors reflects substantially all the light of each respective optical channel and does not reflect the light of any adjacent channels.

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