DiCon Fiberoptics Announces New 1U Rackmount MEMS MxN Matrix Switches

March 2, 2006

RICHMOND, CA – March 2, 2006 – DiCon Fiberoptics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of fiberoptic components, modules, and test equipment, is announcing a new line of 1U Rackmount MEMS MxN Matrix Switches. The new 1U Rackmount provides a low-profile housing alternative for DiCon’s family of MEMS MxN Matrix Switches, and will be shown at OFC/NFOEC 2006, at the Anaheim Convention Center (March 7-9, 2006). The 1U Rackmount MEMS 24x24 Matrix Switch is based on DiCon’s recently announced MEMS 24x24 Matrix Switch Module, and incorporates 48 of DiCon’s MEMS 1x24 switch components in a fully non-blocking (strict sense) two-stage configuration. Each MEMS 1x24 switch is based on a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip, as used in DiCon’s family of MEMS 1xN Switch components. Each MEMS chip consists of a “3D” electrically movable mirror on a silicon support. Voltages applied to the MEMS chip cause the mirror to rotate on two independent axes, which changes the coupling of light between a common fiber and 24 input/output fibers. The MEMS 1x24 Switch component features low insertion loss, low power consumption, excellent repeatability, C and L band operation, and an extremely compact form factor. It is a non-latching device that acts as a shutter when electrical power is removed.

The 1U Rackmount MEMS 24x24 Matrix Switch includes electronics to control the operation of each switch component, as well as the overall state of the switch matrix, over the customer’s choice of serial interfaces (I2C, RS232, or RS485). Evaluation software allows drag-and-drop set-up and tear-down of optical switch paths. Using discrete MEMS switches, the 1U Rackmount MEMS 24x24 Matrix Switch offers low insertion loss (< 1.7 dB), excellent return loss and crosstalk isolation, low power consumption (less than 600 mW), and support for high optical power levels (500 mW), compared to “free space” 3D MEMS switches. The chassis has a form factor of 483mm (W) x 43.65mm (H) x 342mm (D) (19.5” x 1.75” x 14”), and mounts in a standard 19” equipment rack.

1U Rackmount MEMS 24x24 Matrix Switch

DiCon’s Rackmount MxN Matrix Switches can be implemented in a broad range of sizes and configurations, using varying quantities and types of MEMS 1xN switch components. Our flexible chassis design and use of module-level integration enables rapid development of custom configurations for Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) and optical switching functions, for telecom, defense, and other industrial and research applications. Additional functionality such as optical attenuation, power management and monitoring, multi-casting, and splitting/filtering can also be incorporated, at customer request.