Flexure arrangements

• US 20050201712A1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huber+Suhner Polatis Limited (Huber + Suhner Polatis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polatis Ltd. (Huber + Suhner Polatis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dames, Andrew Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3502 involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3566 involving bending a beam, e.g. with cantilever
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3578 Piezoelectric force piezoelectric forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0858; piezo-optic devices G02F1/0131
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4226 Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount

Abstract

A flexure arrangement, suitable for use with or as part of, e.g., an optical beam steering arrangements, and intended for supporting and transmitting movement to any appropriate element, the arrangement including a first flexure to which movement is applied, a second flexure which attaches the arrangement to any appropriate supporting structure, structure linking the first flexure to the second flexure and structure for receiving any appropriate element, the first and second flexure being appropriately spaced so that any movement applied to the first flexure is amplified by the flexure arrangement.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A flexure arrangement, suitable for use with or as part of an optical beam steering arrangement, and intended for supporting and transmitting movement to any appropriate element, the arrangement comprising:

a first flexure to which movement is applied;

a second flexure which attaches the arrangement to any appropriate supporting structure;

means for linking the first flexure to the second flexure; and

means for receiving any appropriate element, wherein the first and second flexure are non-coplanar and appropriately spaced, whereby any movement applied to the first flexure is amplified by the flexure arrangement.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the first flexure and the second flexure are substantially parallel with respect to one another.

19. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the element is an optical element.

20. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the element is a collimator.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the first flexure and the second flexure are spaced at a distance less than half of the length of the collimator.

22. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the element is a reflective.

23. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the element is a grating.

24. A beam steering arrangement, comprising:

a flexure arrangement in accordance with claim 20;

and

actuating means for applying movement to the first flexure so that an actuator movement in any direction causes a collimator movement in the opposite direction, the relative moment of inertia of the actuator and collimator acting to counterbalance any externally induced movements.

25. An arrangement in accordance with claim 24, wherein the actuating means comprises a piezoelectric actuator which when actuated displaces two dimensionally.

26. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the first flexure is located upstream from the second flexure.

27. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein any of the arrangement'"'"'s components incorporate a slot extending from the periphery to an inward portion of the components, thereby facilitating any one of the ready insertion and removal of an optical fiber.

28. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein any of the flexures comprise a hole sufficient in diameter to allow the passage of an optical fiber and to avoid contact between the fiber and the flexure.

29. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the support structure comprises an actuator.

30. An arrangement according to claim 17 and extending in the Z-direction, comprising at least a first and second actuator, the first flexure being at least in part the extremity of the first actuator which extends in the Z-direction when actuated and the second flexure comprising means located at the extremity of the second actuator for pivoting the collimator when the first beam is actuated.

31. An optical switch comprising an arrangement in accordance with claim 17.