Methods and apparatuses for optical switches
First Claim
1. An optical switch comprising:
- an optical component; and
an actuator coupled to the optical component, wherein the actuator is adapted to provide angular motion to the optical component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical switches and other similar optical configurations can comprise high-speed, high precision motors such as voice coil motors to carry out optical switching for applications such as optical signal based communication systems. These switches and configurations are expected to have switch time delays per channel that are significantly shorter than conventional optical switches. Some embodiments may have switch time delays that may be about a factor of 10 (or more) shorter than that for the conventional optical switch technology. Some embodiments may optimize optical coupling efficiency to increase the optical signal intensity transmission through optical switches and potential extend the useful life of the optical switches.
21 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An optical switch comprising:
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an optical component; and
an actuator coupled to the optical component, wherein the actuator is adapted to provide angular motion to the optical component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical switch comprising:
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an optical component; and
a voice coil motor coupled to the optical component, wherein the voice coil motor is adapted to move the optical component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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19. A method of transmitting an optical signal through an optical switch comprising:
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moving an optical component to direct a path for the optical signal to a location near the first optical receiver; and
after moving the optical component, increasing an optical coupling efficiency between the optical component and the first optical receiver.
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32. An optical configuration comprising:
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an optical component;
an optical receiver configured to receive a substantial portion of an optical signal from the optical component;
a semi-reflective film lying between the optical component and the optical receiver; and
an optical tap configured to receive a significant portion of the optical signal that is reflected from the semi-reflective film. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification