SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OF OPTICAL SWITCHING FABRIC

An optical switching fabric enables an optical signal entering the device on any one of multiple input ports to be directed to any one of multiple output ports. The present optical switching fabrics include sensing and monitoring devices that permit precise initial calibration and continuous switch connection status monitoring and control. Light entering the switching fabri c on an input port is reflected by one of a first set of individually controllable mirrors to one of a second set of individually controllable mirrors and then to a corresponding output port. The switching fabrics inclu de control lasers and position sensing devices which provide output signals corresponding to the orientations of the mirrors. In addition, a subset of t he input ports and output ports can be attached to monitor light sources and detectors for recalibration and control. Further, sensors for detecting the intensity of input signals, of signals that have been reflected by a mirror in the first set and by a mirror in the second set, and of signals backscattere d from the output ports may be included.