Lucent, Astarte Introduce Optical Routers

Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J., has announced the development of its all-optical WaveStar LambdaRouter. The router comprises 256 input/output fibers and a micromirror array. The 256 independent mirrors in the array deflect incoming signals to the appropriate output paths. The system is compatible with wavelengths for SONET and synchronous digital hierarchy transmission, and each channel supports rates up to 40 Gb/s. Lucent has scheduled the LambdaRouter for commercial release in December 2000.

Astarté Fiber Networks Inc. of Boulder, Colo., also has produced an optical cross-connect based on micromirror technology. A free-space beam-deflection system, Astarté's router uses electro-optical modules attached to each of up to 1152 fibers. The modules deflect an incoming signal with a micromirror, reflecting it off a fixed mirror to the corresponding module for output.