Micromechanical optical switch
First Claim
1. A light processing system, comprising:
- an optical tap operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to separate the optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part;
a light pipe operable to communicate at least the first signal part to a demultiplexer, the demultiplexer operable to communicate at least a portion of the first signal part for processing;
a plurality of lenses each having a central axis and each capable of receiving at least the portion of the first signal part;
at least one optical switching element disposed between a first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises;
a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and
a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to receive the portion of the first signal part from the first lens of the plurality of lenses and to reflect the portion of the first signal part to the second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A light processing system, comprising:
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an optical tap operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to separate the optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part;
a light pipe operable to communicate at least the first signal part to a demultiplexer, the demultiplexer operable to communicate at least a portion of the first signal part for processing;
a plurality of lenses each having a central axis and each capable of receiving at least the portion of the first signal part;
at least one optical switching element disposed between a first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises;
a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and
a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to receive the portion of the first signal part from the first lens of the plurality of lenses and to reflect the portion of the first signal part to the second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A light processing system, comprising:
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an optical tap operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to separate the optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part;
a light pipe operable to communicate at least the first signal part to a demultiplexer, the demultiplexer operable to communicate at least a portion of the first signal part for processing;
a first lens of a plurality of lenses, the first lens operable to at least the portion of the first signal part;
at least one optical switching element disposed between the first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, the at least one optical switching element operable to receive the portion of the first signal part from the first lens, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises;
a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and
a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to communicate the portion of the first signal part to the second lens of the plurality of lenses when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a first position relative to the fixed layer, and wherein the second lens does not receive the portion of the first signal part when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a second position relative to the fixed layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of processing optical signals, comprising:
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separating a multiple wavelength optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part;
communicating at least the first signal part of the optical signal for processing;
separating the first signal part into at least a first portion and a second portion;
receiving at least the first portion of the first signal part at a first lens of a plurality of lenses;
receiving the first portion of the first signal part at an optical switching element comprising a fixed layer and a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer, the fixed layer and the unitary moveable mirror layer forming a cavity;
applying a voltage to the optical switching element to change the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer and cause a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to reflect the first portion of the first signal part to a second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of processing optical signals, comprising:
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separating a multiple wavelength optical signal into a first signal part and a second signal part;
communicating at least the first signal part of the optical signal for processing;
separating the first signal part into at least a first portion and a second portion;
receiving at least the first portion of the first signal part at a first lens of a plurality of lenses;
receiving the first portion of the first signal part at an optical switching element comprising a fixed layer and a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer, the fixed layer and the unitary moveable mirror layer forming a cavity;
applying a voltage to the optical switching element to change the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer and cause a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to communicate the first portion of the first signal part to a second lens of the plurality of lenses when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a first position relative to the fixed layer, and wherein the second lens does not receive the first portion of the first signal part when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a second position relative to the fixed layer.
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Specification