Damped longitudinal mode optical latching relay
First Claim
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1. A piezoelectric optical relay, comprising:
- a relay housing containing a switching channel;
a first optical path passing through the switching channel;
a solid slug adapted to move within the switching channel;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to impart an impulsive force to the solid slug to move the solid slug to a first position within the switching channel to block the first optical path; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to impart an impulsive force to the solid slug to move the solid slug to a second position within the switching channel to unblock the first optical path.
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Abstract
A piezoelectric optical relay is disclosed in which a solid slug moves within a switching channel formed in relay housing. An optical path passing through the switching channel is blocked or unblocked by motion of the solid slug. Motion of the solid slug is controlled by at least two piezoelectric actuators within the switching channel. Motion of the solid slug is resisted by a liquid, such as a liquid metal, that wets between the solid slug and at least one fixed contact pad in the switching channel. The surface tension of the liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric optical relay, comprising:
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a relay housing containing a switching channel;
a first optical path passing through the switching channel;
a solid slug adapted to move within the switching channel;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to impart an impulsive force to the solid slug to move the solid slug to a first position within the switching channel to block the first optical path; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to impart an impulsive force to the solid slug to move the solid slug to a second position within the switching channel to unblock the first optical path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for switching an optical path in a piezoelectric optical relay having solid slug moveable within a switching channel, the method comprising:
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coupling an input optical signal to an input optical waveguide of the piezoelectric optical relay, the input optical waveguide being optically aligned with an output optical waveguide to form the optical path;
if the optical path is to be completed;
energizing a first piezoelectric actuator to move the solid slug out of the optical path, whereby the input optical waveguide is optically coupled to the output optical waveguide; and
if the optical path is to be broken;
energizing a second piezoelectric actuator to move the solid slug into the optical path, whereby the input optical waveguide is optically decoupled from the output optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for switching between a first optical path and a second optical path through a switching channel in a piezoelectric optical relay, the relay having a solid slug moveable within the switching channel and the method comprising:
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coupling a first input optical signal to a first input optical waveguide of the piezoelectric optical relay, the first input optical waveguide being optically aligned with a first output optical waveguide to form the first optical path;
coupling a second input optical signal to a second input optical waveguide of the piezoelectric optical relay, the second input optical waveguide being optically aligned with a second output optical waveguide to form the second optical path;
if the first optical path is to be selected;
energizing a first piezoelectric actuator to move the solid slug out of the first optical path and into the second optical path, whereby the first input optical waveguide is optically coupled to first output optical waveguide and the second input optical wave guide is optically decoupled from the second output optical waveguide; and
if the second optical path is to be selected;
energizing the second piezoelectric actuator to move the solid slug out of the second optical path and into the first optical path, whereby the first input optical waveguide is optically decoupled from first output optical waveguide and the second input optical waveguide is optically coupled to the second output optical waveguide.
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Specification