Optical Switches
DiCon Fiberoptics, Inc., a recognized leader in designing and manufacturing optical components, offers a robust lineup of fiber optic switches for use in numerous applications.
Optical Switch Applications
Optical Signal Switching and Routing
Optical Network Protection and Restoration
Optical Network Monitoring
Video Distribution
Instrumentation Resource Sharing
Military Communications
To meet the optical switching needs of the different applications across multiple markets, DiCon develops and carries optical switches in three separate technology platforms and a broad range of configurations.
MEMS Optical Switch
This latest technology platform presents the best value in terms of size, form factor, durability, and cost. The design of our MEMS optical switch centers on DiCon's proprietary dual-axes tilting MEMS mirror and is expandable up to a 1x36 switch configuration. Large fan-out 1xN optical switches and non-blocking fan-out/fan-in NxM matrix optical switches are built by cascading multiple of these 1xN switches. The MEMS 1xN fiber optic switch passes the stringent Telcordia GR-1221 qualification and is vastly deployed in today’s optical communication networks. With a lifetime of over a billion cycles, the durability of this MEMS device makes it a perfect choice for optical network monitoring applications that require frequent switching.
- MEMS 1xN Optical Switches - Singlemode
1x2 to 1x128
- MEMS 1xN Optical Switches - Multimode
1x2 to 1x64
- MEMS 2x2 Optical Switches
Add/Drop, Matrix & Blocking
- MEMS Biomedical Optical Switches
1x2 to 1x16, or MxN Blocking
- MEMS Matrix Optical Switches
Up to 96x96 Non-Blocking
- MEMS Multicast Optical Switches
Dynamic Traffic Routing for ROADM networks
- MEMS On/Off Optical Switches
Singlemode and Multimode
- MEMS Special Configuration Optical Switches
Visible Wavelengths, Flexport, or other Unique Designs
Prism Optical Switch
DiCon's prism optical switch achieve channel switching by mechanically actuating a prism in to or out of the optical path. Higher channel count is accomplished by cascading multiple prisms in a series. The prism fiber optic switch is an ideal option for network protection applications where latching is necessary.
Stepper Motor Optical Switch
Our motorized optical switch uses a high accuracy stepper motor to rotate the input fiber precisely to the aligned output fiber positions. The extra mechanical strength of the stepper motor fiber optic switch allows it to switch many types of rigid large core fibers, which are often used in the biomedical and life sciences industries.
Optical Switch Technology Comparison Matrix
| Platform | MEMS | Prism | Stepper Motor |
| Life Time | > 1 Billion Cycles | > 10 Million Cycles | > 10 Million Cycles |
| Max 1xN config. | 1x12 (Single Stage) 1x128 (Double Stage) |
1x8 | 1x50 (Standard) 1x120 (Custom) |
| Max IL | 0.7 dB (1x2) 0.8 dB (1x8) |
1.0 dB (1x2) 2.5 dB (1x8) |
1.2 dB |
| Cross Talk | > 50 dB | > 80 dB | > 80 dB |
| Switching Time | 10 ms (1x2) 30 ms (1x8) |
12 ms (1x2) 75 ms (1x8) |
300 ms + 17ms/channel |
| Qualification | GR-1221 | GR-1073 | |
| Latching Option | No | Yes | No |
| Single Mode Fiber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi Mode Fiber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1060 nm Fiber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PM Fiber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Specialty Fiber | Ideal for small core fiber | Ideal for large core fiber | |
| 2xN Availability | Yes | No | Yes |
| Matrix Availability | Yes | No | Customized |