Electronica 2000 - Analog Devices gives MEM optical switch "top priority"David MannersAnalog Devices has given top priority to a project developing an optical switch using its MEMs (micro-machining) technology.
"We're working at top speed on developing the optical switch," Paul Loser, managing director of Analog Devices, Germany told EW at Electronica today.
At the moment, light in optical networks is switched by electronic switches involving conversion of light signals into electrical signals and vice versa. This results in loss of bandwidth.
"If you can switch light, you have no bandwidth problem," said Loser.
Analog's micro-machining technology is seen as ideal for an optical switch because it can provide the micro-mechanics on-chip for tilting tiny mirrors which switch the light paths.
The R&D on the optical switch is being done at Analog's MEMs fab in Cambridge, near Boston in the US. Asked how long before Analog would produce a prototype, Loser replied: "It is at the edge of technology - it's impossible to say."
Agilent is thought to have already produced a prototype optical switch which is being looked at by equipment manufacturers, and TI is also thought to be working on such a device.
Analog is working with two North American equipment companies (believed to be Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks) on the project. The company has not yet approached big European telecommunications equipment companies such as Alcatel or Siemens.