Optical switch mechanism

• US 6,154,586 A
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JDS Fitel, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JDS Fitel, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Stauss, Karen, Mala, Mohiuddin, MacDonald, Robert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/220,706
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 385/16, 385/17, 385/18, 385/19, 385/22
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3522 the optical element enabling or impairing total internal reflection using evanescent coupling G02B6/3536
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3536 involving evanescent coupling variation, e.g. by a moving element such as a membrane which changes the effective refractive index mode converters G02B6/14; adjustable lateral coupling between waveguides G02B6/283; electro- optical refractive index variations G02F1/0118
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3538 based on displacement or deformation of a liquid controlling the intensity of light by displacement or deformation of a fluid in general G02B26/004; fluid-filled lens of variable focal length G02B3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/355 1x2 switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of two possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841

Abstract

An optical switch mechanism for reflecting an input light beam from an input port to a reflection output port in a first state and for transmitting an input light beam to a transmission output port in a second state is disclosed. The switch mechanism comprises a block made of a light transmissive substrate. The block contains a cavity, which is divided by a light transmissive diaphragm into a reflective portion and a transmissive portion. At the input port a light beam is coupled into the block such that the light beam encounters a reflective surface at an angle greater than a critical angle determined by the refractive indices of the substrate and a reflective fluid retained in the reflective portion of the cavity. When the reflective fluid is in contact with the reflective surface the light beam is totally reflected to a reflection output port. Changing hydrostatic pressure moves the transmissive diaphragm into a position where it is in a touching relationship with the reflective surface and the light beam is then transmitted to a transmission output port. The switch mechanism is simple, reliable, fast and easy to manufacture.

Claims

1. An optical switch mechanism for reflecting an input light beam from an input port to a reflection output port in a first state and for transmitting an input light beam to a transmission output port in a second state comprising:

a block made of a light transmissive substrate for transmitting the light beam, said block containing a cavity having at least a wall at least a portion of the at least a wall being a switching surface, the switching surface having a first mode of operation in the first state and a second mode of operation in the second state of the switch mechanism;

a light transmissive diaphragm for dividing the cavity into a reflective portion containing a light reflective fluid and a transmissive portion containing a light transmissive fluid, whereby the light reflective fluid has a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the light transmissive substrate; and

,

an actuator for switching from the first state, wherein the switching surface is in contact with the light reflective fluid for totally reflecting the light beam, to the second state, wherein the switching surface is in a touching relationship with the light transmissive diaphragm for transmitting the light beam, by moving the light transmissive diaphragm.

2. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pump mechanism and a reservoir containing the light transmissive fluid.

3. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective portion of the switch cavity is formed such that a volume displaced by the light transmissive diaphragm is substantially smaller than a remaining volume containing the light reflective fluid.

4. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

an actuator cavity for actuating movement of the light transmissive diaphragm;

an actuating diaphragm for dividing the actuator cavity into a reflection actuator portion and a transmission actuator portion, whereby the reflection actuator portion is in communication with the reflective portion of the switch cavity and the transmission actuator portion is in communication with the transmissive portion of the switch cavity;

means for inducing a force on the actuating diaphragm, the actuating diaphragm being moved for changing hydrostatic pressure within the transmissive portion of the switch cavity and static pressure within the reflective portion of the switch cavity.

5. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for inducing a force on the actuating diaphragm comprises a capacitor plate.

6. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for inducing a force on the actuating diaphragm comprises an induction coil.

7. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the refractive indices of the light transmissive substrate, the light transmissive diaphragm and the light transmissive fluid are substantially a same refractive index.

8. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light reflective fluid comprises air.

9. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive fluid comprises a hydraulic fluid.

10. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive fluid comprises a gel.

11. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive diaphragm comprises a polymer or glass diaphragm.

12. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive substrate comprises glass.

13. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmissive diaphragm is opaque and comprises a light transmissive area.

14. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein the light transmissive diaphragm comprises a conductive material and wherein the switch cavity comprises means for inducing a force on the light transmissive diaphragm.

15. An optical switch mechanism for reflecting an input light beam from an input port to a reflection output port in a first state and for transmitting an input light beam to a transmission output port in a second state comprising:

a block made of a light transmissive substrate for transmitting the light beam, said block containing a switch cavity and an actuator cavity, whereby the switch cavity comprises at least a wall at least a portion of the at least a wall being a switching surface;

a light transmissive diaphragm for dividing the switch cavity into a reflective portion containing a light reflective fluid and a transmissive portion containing a light transmissive fluid, whereby the light reflective fluid has a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the light transmissive substrate;

an actuating diaphragm for dividing the actuator cavity into a reflection actuator portion and a transmission actuator portion, whereby the reflection actuator portion is in communication with the reflective portion of the switch cavity and the transmission actuator portion is in communication with the transmissive portion of the switch cavity;

a first capacitor plate for inducing an attractive force on the actuating diaphragm for bringing the switch into the first state when voltage is applied, whereby hydrostatic pressure within the transmissive portion of the switch cavity is reduced and static pressure within the reflective portion of the switch cavity is increased for detaching the light transmissive diaphragm from the switching surface providing totally reflecting conditions at the switching surface; and

,

a second capacitor plate for inducing an attractive force on the actuating diaphragm for bringing the switch into the second state when voltage is applied, whereby hydrostatic pressure within the transmissive portion of the switch cavity is increased and static pressure within the reflective portion of the switch cavity is reduced for moving the light transmissive diaphragm in a touching relationship with the switching surface providing transmitting conditions at the switching surface.

16. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein a plurality of actuator cavities are connected in series to generate a sufficient hydrostatic pressure for moving the light transmissive diaphragm.

17. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein the switch mechanism is in the first state when no voltage is applied to the capacitor plates.

18. An optical switch mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein the switch mechanism is in the second state when no voltage is applied to the capacitor plates.

19. A method for reflecting an input light beam from an input port to a reflection output port in a first state and for transmitting an input light beam to a transmission output port in a second state comprising the steps of:

transmitting the light beam through a block of a light transmissive substrate from the input port to a reflective surface, whereby the switching surface is in contact with a light reflective fluid, the light reflective fluid having a refractive index smaller than the light transmissive substrate

providing totally reflecting conditions at the switching surface;

totally reflecting the light beam in a first state from the switching surface to the reflection output port;

moving a light transmissive diaphragm into a touching relationship with the switching surface; and

,

transmitting the light beam through the light transmissive substrate, the switching surface, the light transmissive diaphragm, a light transmissive fluid and again through the light transmissive substrate from the input port to the transmission output port.

20. An optical switch mechanism for reflecting an input light beam from an input port to a reflection output port in a first state and for transmitting an input light beam to a transmission output port in a second state comprising:

a block of transmissive substrate for transmitting a light beam, the block having a cavity therein, the cavity bounded by walls including at least two walls comprising reflective surfaces

at least one input port for directing the light beam into the block

a reflective output port associated with each input port;

a transmissive output port associated with each input port;

a transmissive fluid portion of the cavity separated from the reflective surfaces by an elastically deformable membrane;

a reflective fluid portion of the cavity separated from the transmissive fluid portion;

an actuator for switching the optical switch mechanism from a first state to a second state having a reflective fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the reflective fluid portion of the cavity and a transmissive fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the transmissive fluid portion of the cavity and means for changing the hydrostatic pressure in the reflective fluid reservoir and the transmissive fluid reservoir causing the fluids to flow in opposite directions between the actuator and the cavity

wherein, in a first state, an increase in pressure in the reflective fluid reservoir causes reflective fluid to flow into the reflective fluid portion of the cavity and the transmissive fluid to flow into the reservoir, separating the elastically deformable membrane from the reflective surfaces allowing reflective fluid to flow between the membrane and the reflective surfaces, and thereby allowing the light beam to pass from the input to the associated reflective output port, and

wherein, in a second state, an increase in pressure in the transmissive fluid reservoir causes transmissive fluid to flow into the transmissive portion of the cavity causing the elastically deformable membrane to contact the reflective surfaces, thereby allowing the light beam to pass from the input to an associated transmissive output through the transmissive fluid in the cavity.

21. A switch mechanism as defined in claim 20, wherein the configuration of the spacing between the reflective surfaces and the alignment of the ports permits each port to receive transmitted or reflected signals from more than one other port.

22. A switch mechanism as defined in claim 21, wherein the switch mechanism is bi-directional and each port is an input port, a reflective output port or a transmitted output port depending on the direction of the light beam and the state of the switch mechanism.