MEMS devices for all optical networks.

The coming of age of the Internet and data networks has brought with it an enormous increase in broadband networking, which will be filled through optical networking. Optical networks in the past were confined to point to point static WDM links. These point to point links are rapidly migrating towards all-optical mesh networks where lightpaths can be quickly changed on demand. This migration is driven by the needs of the carriers for new services, and by considerations of cost, power, bit rate and protocol transparency. This in turn has created an enormous demand for inexpensive yet flexible components. In particular there is demand for small and very large switching fabrics for switching and protection, tunable lasers for wavelength conversion, variable optical attenuators for power leveling, and devices for dispersion compensation. For many of these applications, MEMS devices are good candidates as they offer cost effective solutions. The role of MEMS in these applications will be described, with particular emphasis on large size switching fabrics, for which MEMS appear to be the only viable solution.