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Freespace optical bypass-exchange switch

  • US 5,943,454 A
  • Filed: 08/15/1997
  • Issued: 08/24/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical switch for switching a first optical signal between a first output and a second output, comprising:

  • a telecentric imaging device having;

    a first lens disposed between a first input and the first output and characterized by a first focal length, wherein the first lens is configured to collimate the first optical signal when said first signal is received by the first lens uncollimated, and further configured to couple the first optical signal into the second output when said first optical signal is received by the first lens collimated;

    a second lens disposed between the first lens and the first output and characterized by a second focal length, wherein the second lens is configured to couple the first optical signal into the first output when said first optical signal is received by the second lens collimated, and wherein the first and second lenses are separated from one another by a distance equal to the sum of the first and the second focal lengths, and further wherein the first input and the second output are in a focal plane of the first lens and the first output is in a focal plane of the second lens;

    and an optical director for changing the operation of the switch between an exchange state and a bypass state, wherein,in the exchange state, the first optical signal is imaged into the first output, and, in the bypass state, the first optical signal is imaged into the second output.

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