Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Optical Switching Array

Increasing bandwidth is becoming essential in today’s battlefield due to the level of communication that is necessary to support soldiers fighting in constantly changing hostile conditions. Unfortunately, space based communication systems have lagged behind the development of high data rate land based optical communication switching systems and are becoming a bottle neck in the data transfer environment. SA Photonics believes that the goal in building a ruggedized spacebased optical switch can be achieved through improved shock and vibration isolation (for launch environments), and through proper power management and thermal/radiation shielding (for space operations) of current commercial optical switching hardware. SA Photonics selection of switch hardware coupled with our experience in developing mems based optical switches and space qualified hardware is the optimal solution. SA Photonics has selected an optical switch that is one of the highest performance and most scalable products in the industry today, and is the most compact and reconfigurable switch system available. Our design of the packaging and isolation system is highly manufacturable and will provide an optical switching product that will operate reliably through the adverse space environments including vibration, temperature, and radiation.