Non-contacting micromechanical optical switch
First Claim
1. A micromechanical optical switch, comprising:
- a reflective surface having two angled reflective surfaces;
a micromechanical device, comprising;
a reflective member, supported by at least one hinge;
at least one electrode underneath said member, such that when said electrode is activated, said member deflects towards said electrode, but does not contact any surface; and
said micromechanical device positioned opposite said reflective surface such that light impinging upon a first of said angled reflective surfaces directs light to said reflective member of said micromechanical device and a second of said angled reflective surfaces receives light from said micromechanical device, wherein said second angled reflective surface receives light at a position dependent upon the deflection of said reflective member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A micromechanical optical switch (30). A reflective surface with two angled reflective surfaces (32,34) positioned opposite a micromechanical device (12). The micromechanical device is positioned such that light input along a path (36) to a first (32) of the two angled reflective surfaces is reflected to the micromechanical device. The micromechanical device then reflects the light to the second (34) of the angled surfaces to be output along another path (38a, 38b). The path (38a, 38b) that the second angled surface (34) outputs the light along is selected depending upon the position of the micromechanical device'"'"'s reflective member (14). The reflective member (14) deflects from at least one hinge (22) to one of several positions. The number of positions available to the reflective member (14) depends upon the voltage applied to the electrodes (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d). The reflective member (14) makes no contact with any other surfaces, and thereby always returns to a know position upon loss of power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micromechanical optical switch, comprising:
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a reflective surface having two angled reflective surfaces; a micromechanical device, comprising; a reflective member, supported by at least one hinge; at least one electrode underneath said member, such that when said electrode is activated, said member deflects towards said electrode, but does not contact any surface; and said micromechanical device positioned opposite said reflective surface such that light impinging upon a first of said angled reflective surfaces directs light to said reflective member of said micromechanical device and a second of said angled reflective surfaces receives light from said micromechanical device, wherein said second angled reflective surface receives light at a position dependent upon the deflection of said reflective member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A micromechanical optical switch, comprising:
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a reflective surface having two angled reflective surfaces; a micromechanical device, comprising; a reflective member, supported by at least one hinge; at least one post, supported said at least one hinge over an air gap; and at least one electrode underneath said air gap, such that when said electrode is activated, said member deflects upon said hinge towards said electrode, but does not contact any surface; and said micromechanical device positioned opposite said reflective surfaces such that light impinging upon a first of said angled reflective surfaces directs light to said reflective member of said micromechanical device and a second of said angled reflective surfaces receives light from said micromechanical device, wherein said second angled reflective surface receives light at a position dependent upon the deflection of said reflective member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification