"...The mirror cracked from side to side....."

In defense applications that require the speed, security, and capacity native to optical switching, 3D MEMS technology that uses mirror and fixed collimator beams, just isn't good enough.  

Switches using 3D MEMS are fragile.  There is the potential for the "mirrors to crack from side to side" (with apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson).  In defense applications, a cracked, distorted or marred mirror could result in degraded performance or switch failure.  But reliability isn't the only reason that 3D MEMS aren't the best solution for defense applications.  They also:

• Have relatively high insertion loss - from 2.5dB to 4dB
• Require light to make connections
• Support single mode fiber only
• Require integrated optical power meters
• Modulate power during switching
• Have relatively high return loss - from 30 to 35dB.

For defense systems that are often deployed in environmentally and maintenance unfriendly environments but must still deliver very high performance, 3D MEMS don't measure up.

A better solution for defense applications requiring reliable, stable, fast, and ultra-low loss optical switching is available in Polatis DirectLight (TM) technology.  Polatis steers light using piezoelectric actuators (not mirror arrays) to direct light paths.  As a result, Polatis switches can not only stand up to the toughest physical environments, they also:

• Have very low insertion loss - 0.4dB typical, 1.0dB max
• Use integral position sensors
• Control is independent of the light level
• Switch dark fiber in <10ms
• Are fully transparent and bi-directional
• Have no unwanted signal modulation
• Support both single mode and multimode fiber
• Support optical power monitors - but don't need them
• Have low return loss - 55 dB
• Consume very little power.

For defense applications that require the most reliable, best and most flexible optical switch - even under the most difficult physical environments - Polatis' DirectLight (TM) beam steering technology is the answer. 

Want to learn more?  Contact us at:

• 978-327-5080  telephone
• info@polatis.com  email
• http://www.polatis.com/