Optical Switch Kits

Solid-State and MEMS Switches for Wavelengths from 480 - 1625 nm
Easy Operation Manually and Remotely
Fast Switching Time

OSW12-1310E

1x2 Switch

OSW22-633E

2x2 Switch

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Customizable Benchtop Enclosures

Fiber Patch Cables

Fused Fiber Optic WDMs

Fiber Optic Circulators

Please Wait

Overview
Specs
Pin Diagrams
Software
Feedback

Features

Switch Types: 1x2 or 2x2*
USB 2.0 Remote Control
Toggle Pushbutton on Board
TTL Toggle Input
Channel Indication by 7 Segment LED Display
TTL Status Signals
Euro Size Card (100 mm x 160 mm) with Standard DIN 41612 Connector for Easy Integration into 19" Systems
Power Supply Included
RoHS Compliant

Thorlabs offers a line of bidirectional fiber optic switch kits that include a MEMS optical switch with an integrated control circuit that offers a USB 2.0 interface for easy integration into your optical system. Choose from 1x2 or 2x2 MEMS modules with any of the following operating wavelengths: 480 - 650 nm, 600 - 800 nm, 750 - 950 nm, 800 - 1000 nm, 970 - 1170 nm, or 1280 - 1625 nm. These bidirectional switches have low insertion loss and excellent repeatability.

The switching mechanism is based on silicon MEMS technology, which ensures high reliability, provides exceptionally low crosstalk between channels, and is inherently very fast (switching time <1ms). These switches, which are designed for the distribution and routing of signals at the indicated visible or near infrared wavelengths, are controlled via an on-board pushbutton switch, a TTL toggle input signal, or digitally via the USB 2.0 port. A seven segment LED displays the active channel.

These optical switch kits can be powered via the USB port (4.75 V - 5.25 VDC 300 mA Max) or the onboard DC power connector (6V - 15 VDC 300 mA Max). The Thorlabs PMPS9 power supply is included.

By default, all switches are shipped without fiber connectors. Termination of the fibers is available upon request; please contact Tech Support for pricing.

*Additionally, 1x4 and 1x8 MEMS switch modules are available upon request. Please contact Tech Support for details.

OSW MEMS Fiber Optic Switch Kits Specifications

1x2 Switch Item #	OSW12-488E	OSW12-633E	OSW12-780E	OSW12-830E	OSW12-980E	OSW12-1310E
2x2 Switch Item #	OSW22-488E	OSW22-633E	OSW22-780E	OSW22-830E	OSW22-980E	OSW22-1310E
Operating Wavelength	480 - 650 nm	600 - 800 nm	750 - 950 nm	800 - 1000 nm	970 - 1170 nm	1280 - 1625 nm
Insertion Loss	Max 2.0 dB at 488 nm	Typical: 0.7 dB / Max: 1.5 dB
Cross Talk	Typical: 75 dB / Max: 60 dB
Polarization Dependent Loss	Typical: 0.02 dB / Max: 0.05 dB
Backreflection	Typical: 55 dB / Max: 50 dB
Switching Speed	Typical: 0.5 ms / Max: 1 ms
Max. Optical Power	30 mW	50 mW	75 mW	85 mW	105 mW	300 mW
Fiber Type (Single Mode)	Fibercore SM450	Fibercore SM600	Fibercore SM750	Fibercore SM800	Fibercore SM980	Corning SMF-28E
Mode-Field Diameter	3.3 µm	4.3 µm	5.3 µm	5.6 µm	6.2 µm	9.2 µm @ 1310 nm 10.4 µm @ 1550 nm
Optical Connector	None (or On Request)
Lifetime (No Wear Out)	Proven up to 10⁹ Switching Cycles
Operation	Non-Latching
Control	On Board Switch, TTL Signal or USB Remote Control
Operating Voltage	4.75 - 5.25 VDC 300 mA (USB Connector) or 6 - 15 VDC 300 mA (DC Power Connector)
Wall Power Supply (Included )	90 - 264 VAC / 9 VDC 1.1 A
Operating Temperature	0 to 40 °C
Storage Temperature	-40 to +70 °C
Dimensions (L x W x H)	170 mm x 100 mm x 20 mm
Weight	<0.3 kg

OSW12_780E

JP5 - Data Link Selector

Interface	JP5A	JP5B	JP5C	JP5D
Virtual COM Port over USB	1-2	1-2	1-2	1-2
RS232 Interface via CON4	2-3	2-3	2-3	2-3

CON4 - TTL Toggle Signal, Power, Switch Status, and RS232

64-pin Connection

CON6 - BNC Female for TTL Toggle Signal

BNC Female

CON8 - USB Type B

USB type B

Software for the OSWxx Series Optical Switches

The available software is organized into the following categories:

Applications: Standard application-software packages and graphical user interfaces. This is what most users need to operate the device for typical applications.
Drivers: Instrument drivers for the National Instruments™, LabWindows™/CVI and LabVIEW™ development environments. These are intended for developers who want to extend or adapt the functionality of the device to their special requirements.

Posted Comments:

user (posted 2024-12-04 10:24:49.06)

Hello, My company is interested in the 2x2 switches that could use PM850 fiber. Would Thorlabs be able to provide a product using this? We could also be open to similar PM fiber, but we require the polarization maintaining fibers for our need.

jweimar (posted 2024-12-06 03:33:53.0)

Dear user, thank you for your feedback. We can offer the optical switches with PM fibers. We will contact you directly for further discussions.

Nir Kapon (posted 2024-08-22 17:54:59.45)

Hello, I have the OSW22-780E in my lab and I'm trying to connect to it using the USB interface. When I try to install the drivers I get an error massage from "Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library" saying that "this application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in unusual way." Do you have any suggestions? Thank you!

GBoedecker (posted 2024-08-22 08:45:28.0)

Thank you for your feedback! I will contact you directly for troubleshooting.

user (posted 2024-04-03 15:44:15.633)

I am interested in the OSW12-1310E. If I connect to the board using usb, can I write my own C# serial bus code to toggle the switch state? Are there a list of the software commands that could be sent? Thank you.

GBoedecker (posted 2024-04-04 02:37:27.0)

Thank you for your feedback. Yes, you can use the commands that are documented in the manual to communicate with the device in C#.

Preeti Yadav (posted 2024-02-23 16:01:38.303)

Hi, Do you provide OSW12-1310E with LC/PC connectors? Thanks!

fmortaheb (posted 2024-02-28 07:43:50.0)

Dear Preeti, Thank you for your feedback. We offer our OSW modules including OSW12-1310E with LC/PC connectors on request. Regarding price and lead time we will reach out to you directly.

Harvey Gould (posted 2024-01-12 14:23:32.393)

Can this switch or the OSW12-780E be configured for polarization-maintaining switching, such as by adding polarization maintaining fiber optical cable (eg PM780-HP) and FC/APC connectors? Thank you.

fmortaheb (posted 2024-01-15 11:05:53.0)

Thank you very much for contacting Thorlabs and your interest in our products. We can offer you the OSW12-780E with PM fibers. I will contact you directly for further discussions.

Jingyuan Zheng (posted 2023-04-20 10:07:09.587)

Hello, I'm Zheng Jingyuan from Tsinghua University and I have bought a OSW12-1310E in our lab. Would you please offer the typical repeatability of this optical switch?Thank you very much!

hchow (posted 2023-04-21 11:24:46.0)

Dear Mr. Zheng, thank you for your feedback. I will personally reach out to you to provide this information. Thank you.

user (posted 2022-11-19 13:14:36.09)

Hi! I'm interested in OSW22-1310E. Is it possible to add FC/APC connectors for all optical fibers? SMF length 1m. Please tell me the quotation and delivery date in this case. Thank you!

wskopalik (posted 2022-11-21 03:40:08.0)

Thank you very much for your feedback! We will contact you about the quotation and lead time for this custom connectorization.

Ping Liu (posted 2022-03-18 08:05:25.143)

Hi, do you have OSW12-633E with PM fiber and FC/APC connectors (narrow key)? Then give me a quote please. Thanks.

soswald (posted 2022-03-23 10:13:41.0)

Dear Ping Liu, thank you for your feedback. I have reached out to you directly to discuss your application in detail.

Jianfei Wang (posted 2019-09-25 14:05:17.303)

Hi, OSW12-1310E is specified as for 1280-1625 nm. Could it be used down to 1230nm? I.e. to cover 1230-1625nm. Thank you!

MKiess (posted 2019-10-08 02:34:21.0)

This is a response from Michael at Thorlabs. Thank you for your inquiry. The specifications given are for the wavelength range from 1240nm to 1640nm. The mirror coating is designed for this wavelength range. Since the transfer curve of the coating does not abruptly end below 1240nm, the switch also works at 1230nm. However, a higher insertion loss and further deviations from the stated specifications are to be expected.

Xiaoying Deng (posted 2019-05-27 16:11:31.927)

Hello, We purchased two OSW12-980E switch on February 2 2019. PO number is PO028061.We tested the insertion loss with a broadband source at wavelength range 900~1200nm, and got a loss of approximately -2.5 to -3.8dB. Why is it higher than -1.5dB mentioned in the speciation? Thanks,

swick (posted 2019-05-31 04:24:11.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. For OSW12-980E the operating wavelength range is specified with 970 - 1170 nm. The light source emits from 900~1200nm so approx. one third (100 nm) of the optical power (assuming constant spectral power distribution) is outside of operating range which introduce additional loss. In case the OSW was used with fiber connectors like FC/PC then the interconnection between the fiber connectors would also add further loss. Insertion loss for our OSWs is specified for bare fibers ends.

ZH0012UI (posted 2019-03-05 19:34:03.28)

Dear Sir/Madam, Is it possible to control the OSW12-1310E with MATLAB? For my application, I need to programme the control of the switch to make it work in different state continuously. Is that possible? Best Regards,

swick (posted 2019-03-25 05:20:04.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. Controlling the OSW12-1310E is possible via Matlab. The communication uses a serial data link which could be established either via RS232 available on CON4 (Backplane connector) or via a Virtual COM Port over USB.

bromanov (posted 2018-07-26 12:52:44.05)

Dear colleagues, Please let us know the possibility to supply OSW22 switch modules for operation in spectral bands 400-1100nm and 900-2500nm. Thank you Boris Romanov

swick (posted 2018-08-28 05:10:19.0)

This is a response from Sebastian at Thorlabs. Thank you for the inquiry. At the time we can offer an OSW22 with MM Fiber for 400 - 1100 nm as customized device. For wavelength range 900 - 2500 nm we currently do not offer suitable versions. I contacted you directly.

maxime.dubois (posted 2016-06-17 04:30:02.443)

Hello, I have two issues with the proposed producted. First, would it be possible to feed in more than 30mW at 488nm ? Typically, up to 100 mW would be great. I guess it would require to change the fiber, do you think it is possible to develop that ? Second, is there a way to have a version compatible with 405 nm also ? Regards, Max

shallwig (posted 2016-06-20 11:10:20.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. I will contact you directly to check if we can offer a special and to check your application in more detail.

jeroen.decoster (posted 2015-05-12 09:02:02.327)

Good morning, I'm wondering whether the insertion loss of this module is wavelength dependent. Would you have a measured transmission spectrum that you can share? thanks, Jeroen

tschalk (posted 2015-05-13 07:11:36.0)

This is a response from Thomas at Thoralbs. Thank you very much for your feedback. The insertion loss depends on different factors. The attenuation is caused by the mirror, the fiber and air gaps between coupled connectors. The attenuation of the fiber is wavelength dependent and so the insertion loss of the module is also wavelength dependent. Unfortunately there are no specific measurement values available. I will contact you directly to discuss your application.

h532114 (posted 2015-03-23 20:29:54.263)

I have a laser with wavelength of 473nm. How big will be the attenuation with the 480-650nm OSW12-488E? If the attenuation is to big, can you recommend any other products to be able to switch the laser with fast speed? Looking forward hearing back, C

shallwig (posted 2015-03-24 10:03:09.0)

This is a response from Stefan at Thorlabs. Thank you very much for your inquiry. We do not have any data showing the attenuation level at 473nm but we think it will be the same as for 480nm. The built in single mode fiber SM450 has a very similar behavior at 473nm and the aluminum mirror built in the switches is specified down to 405nm. We have no other switch available for lower wavelengths but we are pretty sure the OSW12-488E works fine at 473nm and has same losses as listed in the “specs” Tab on our website . I will contact you directly to discuss your application in more detail.

igkiou (posted 2013-01-24 16:25:21.657)

Hi, Would it be possible to provide me with a quote and lead time for a 1x4 version of OSW12-488E with FC/PC connectors? You can contact me at the email I provide. Thank you in advance.

bdada (posted 2011-10-31 15:57:00.0)

Response from Buki at Thorlabs: Thank you for using our feedback tool. The switch will work from about 1250-1650nm. Insertion loss is < 0.9 dB and WDL (wavelength dependent loss) is approximately 0.1-0.3 dB. We expect that crosstalk and return loss should be about the same. We will work on updating our web presentation to make the applicable wavelength range clearer. Please contact TechSupport@thorlabs.com if you have further questions about this matter.

dirk.taillaert (posted 2011-10-31 10:36:51.0)

A question about the OSW12-1310E switch : it is specified in wavelength range 1285-1330 nm & 1525-1575. I guess it can also be used around 1490nm wavelength ? Will the insertion loss/return loss/crosstalk be worse at that wavelength ?

jvigroux (posted 2011-10-20 11:31:00.0)

a response from Julien at Thorlabs: We can offer for most wavelengths switches that have 1x4 or even 1x8 architectures. It is possible for all our switches to use them in the reverse direction so that one output can select either one of the inputs.

parksj (posted 2011-10-18 11:35:32.0)

Dear Sir, It is amazing! However, we are looking for a 1*N (N is 3 or 4) optical switch with this switching time. and also, I wonder that it is possible to work contrariwise(ex. port3->port1 or port2 -> port1) Can you help us with this? Yours, Seongjun Park

jjurado (posted 2011-02-01 17:35:00.0)

Response from Javier at Thorlabs to tbeom: Thank you very much for submitting your inquiry. We can certainly offer 1 x 4 and 1 x 8 switches as special items, so I will contact you directly with additional information and to set up a formal quotation, if you would like. The main specifications of the 1 x 4 SM switch are the following: Wavelength range: ~1240-1640nm 1.0 dB insertion loss 1 ms response time 60 dB crosstalk

tbeom (posted 2011-02-01 09:34:08.0)

Please provide me information on the 1x4 version of the optical switch kits. This was listed as an option but I could not find further information. My applicaion is below. -wavelength : 1550 nm -FC/APC -Single mode fiber

jens (posted 2009-06-11 08:39:25.0)

A reply from Jens at Thorlabs: we can indeed offer 1x4 as a custom item. We would only need to know which wavelength, fiber type and connectors you need. In the past we had for example Multimode Fiber for a broad wavelenght range and single mode at 1310nm, 488nm&514nm and 750nm.

Lehmann (posted 2009-06-10 18:59:40.0)

Please provide me information on the 1x4 version of the optical switch kits. This was listed as an option but I could not find further information on this.

1x2 Optical Switch Kits

Zoom

1x2 Optical Switch
Models Covering Wavelengths from 480 - 1625 nm

These 1x2 bidirectional switch kits feature one input and two outputs. They are ideal for switching between two input signals or switching a signal between two destinations. MEMS technology ensures fast switching (<1 ms), high reliability, and exceptionally low crosstalk.

2x2 Optical Switch Kits

Zoom

2x2 Optical Switch
Models Covering Wavelengths from 480 - 1625 nm

These 2x2 bidirectional optical switches, which have two inputs and two outputs, feature straight and cross switching modes, where each input can be routed to one of two outputs. (1→3 and 2→4, or 1→4 and 2→3). MEMS technology ensures fast switching (<1 ms), high reliability, and exceptionally low crosstalk.