Integrated multichannel optical wavelength selective switches incorporating an arrayed-waveguide grating multiplexer and thermooptic switches

A multichannel optical wavelength selective switch is investigated, which can switch signals at arbitrary wavelengths between multichannels in wavelength division multiplexing systems. It is based on the combination of an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer and an array of optical space-division switches. A monolithically integrated 2/spl times/2 optical wavelength selective switch is successfully fabricated for four multiplexed signals in the 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength region. Here, an AWG and four 2/spl times/2 thermooptic switches are laid out on a 30/spl times/60 mm/sup 2/ chip. Wavelength selective switching operations for four wavelength signals between two lines are demonstrated in a time slot of 40 ms with a switching speed of 1 ms.