Optical Circuit Switches (OCS)
Microlens Arrays for Low-Loss Beam Steering, Reliable Port-to-Port Coupling, and Scalable OCS Architectures
Optical Circuit Switching (OCS) represents a network architecture in which data is transmitted and switched via optical signals. Instead of relying on conventional electronic forwarding mechanisms, a direct physical connection between network endpoints is established by selectively steering light beams, thereby creating a dedicated optical path.
OCS enables very high data rates and supports transmission speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s—significantly exceeding those of traditional Ethernet-based networks. This technology is particularly advantageous in data center environments, where it enhances data communication speed and efficiency while simultaneously reducing operational costs and energy consumption.
Optical Requirements for Optical Circuit Switches
Optical circuit switches impose stringent requirements on the optical components used, as they must ensure precise beam control, low loss, and stable port-to-port coupling across large port counts.
Custom Micro-Optics and Lens Arrays for Optical Circuit Switches
INGENERIC optical components are engineered to meet the requirements of modern optical circuit switches, supporting the realization of stable, low-loss, and reproducible beam paths in MEMS- and LCoS-based switching architectures. They ensure precise port-to-port coupling, minimize insertion loss, and maintain optical stability – even in large-scale OCS matrices under data center operating conditions.
A precisely defined beam size and divergence, optimally matched to MEMS mirror footprints or LCoS pixel grids—for precise wavelength- or fiber-level routing.
Controlled beam shaping reduces unwanted scattering and coupling losses into adjacent ports, improving overall signal-to-noise ratio within the switch
Optics with tight form tolerances and high reproducibility reduce active alignment effort and accelerate OCS module production
Stable beam propagation under temperature drift, vibration, and long-term operation ensures reliable switching performance in data center environments
Product and Technology Highlights at A Glance
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