Optical cross-connect switch using electrostatic surface actuators
First Claim
1. An optical micromachine for steering optical beams comprising:
- a reflective element having a reflecting surface to redirect an optical beam from an original direction to a second direction; and
a surface electrostatic actuator operatively coupled to said reflective element to selectively manipulate said reflective element in a path of said optical beam, said surface electrostatic actuator including a movable member that can be displaced with respect to a stationary member of said electrostatic actuator in response to electrostatic forces, said movable member having a first plurality of electrodes on a first surface of said movable member, said stationary member having a second plurality of electrodes on a second surface of said stationary member that opposes said first surface of said movable member, said first and second pluralities of said electrodes configured to generate said electrostatic forces to laterally displace said movable member in a direction generally parallel to said first and second surfaces, said movable member being mechanically attached to said reflective element such that said reflective element is selectively manipulated in said path of said optical beam by displacement of said movable member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method of steering optical beams utilize a surface electrostatic actuator to mechanically pivot a micromirror to selectively redirect a received optical beam to a predetermined destination. In a preferred application, the system is an optical switch that can optically couple a number of first optical fibers to a number of second optical fibers in one of many configurations. As an optical switch, the system includes a number of switching devices that operate to couple the optical fibers. Each switching device includes a surface electrostatic actuator and a micromirror to reflect a received optical signal to a selected optical fiber. The electrostatic actuator includes a translator and a stator that are separated by a short distance. The opposing surfaces of the translator and stator include a number of drive electrodes. These electrodes generate electrostatic forces between the translator and the stator. The translator is laterally displaced when the electrostatic forces are modified. The modification of the electrostatic forces is accomplished by reconfiguring a voltage pattern of the drive electrodes on the translator and/or the stator. The lateral displacement of the translator pivots the micromirror, which is mechanically attached to the translator. Pivoting the micromirror from a non-reflective orientation to a reflective orientation equates to activating the switching device. When activated, the micromirror of the switching device reflects the received optical signal to the selected optical fiber. In the preferred embodiment, the translator and the stator further include levitator electrodes that generate repulsive forces to negate any attractive forces between the translator and the stator.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical micromachine for steering optical beams comprising:
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a reflective element having a reflecting surface to redirect an optical beam from an original direction to a second direction; and
a surface electrostatic actuator operatively coupled to said reflective element to selectively manipulate said reflective element in a path of said optical beam, said surface electrostatic actuator including a movable member that can be displaced with respect to a stationary member of said electrostatic actuator in response to electrostatic forces, said movable member having a first plurality of electrodes on a first surface of said movable member, said stationary member having a second plurality of electrodes on a second surface of said stationary member that opposes said first surface of said movable member, said first and second pluralities of said electrodes configured to generate said electrostatic forces to laterally displace said movable member in a direction generally parallel to said first and second surfaces, said movable member being mechanically attached to said reflective element such that said reflective element is selectively manipulated in said path of said optical beam by displacement of said movable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of steering optical beams using a surface electrostatic actuator comprising steps of:
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receiving an optical beam;
displacing a movable member of said surface electrostatic actuator in a direction generally parallel to a surface of said movable member facing a stationary member of said surface electrostatic actuator;
selectively manipulating a reflective element in a path of said optical beam in response to displacement of said movable member of said surface electrostatic actuator in said direction generally parallel to said surface of said movable member facing said stationary member of said surface electrostatic actuator; and
redirecting said optical beam by reflecting said optical beam from said reflective element to a destination that is at least partially defined by said selective manipulation of said reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An optical switch comprising:
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a switching element positioned to selectively direct a received optical signal to one of a plurality of waveguides, said switching element having a reflective surface to reflect said received optical signal to said one of said plurality of said waveguides; and
an electrostatic actuator operatively coupled to said switching element to selectively manipulate said reflective surface to reflect said received optical signal, said electrostatic actuator including a movable member having a first plurality of electrodes on a first surface of said movable member and a stationary member having a second plurality of electrodes on a second surface of said stationary member to generate electrostatic forces between said movable member and said stationary member, said first surface and second surface being opposed surfaces such that said movable member is able to be displaced in a direction generally parallel to said first and second surfaces, said movable member being mechanically attached to said switching element such that said reflective surface of said switching element is manipulated when said movable member of said electrostatic actuator is displaced. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification