{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9641917","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9641917","title":"Optical communications apparatus and method","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-10-21T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-05-02T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04Q","H04Q","H04Q","H04Q","H04Q","H04Q","H04Q"],"num_claims":19,"abstract":"Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical communications apparatus, where the apparatus includes: an input system, a first optical switch array, and an output system, where the input system includes N input ports that are one-dimensionally arranged on a first plane, a first beam expander, a demultiplexer, and a first optical path changer; the first optical switch array includes N×K first optical switch units that are two-dimensionally arranged on a second plane, and the first optical switch units can rotate in a first axial line direction and a second axial line direction; and the output system includes a second optical path changer, a second beam expander, a second optical switch array, and M output ports that are two-dimensionally arranged."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Optical communications apparatus and method","description":"Embodiments of the present invention provide an optical communications apparatus, where the apparatus includes: an input system, a first optical switch array, and an output system, where the input sys","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9641917","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9641917","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Optical communications apparatus and method\" (US-9641917). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9641917","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9641917","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9641917","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T05:39:54.025Z"}