Fiber-optic free-space micromachined matrix switches

• US 6,215,921 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Lih-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/377,694
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 385/18, 385/15-23, 385/147, 355/32, 349/201, 349/21, 356/462, 359/629, 359/223, 359/224, 362/552, 700/17
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3564 Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3574 Mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3594 Characterised by additional functional means, e.g. means for variably attenuating or branching or means for switching differently polarized beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/003 using switches based on microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS]

Abstract

An optical switch device redirects a beam of light traveling along a first direction to a second direction and includes a base member, a reflective panel and an actuator. The reflective panel is pivotally connected to the base member and moves between a reflective state and a non-reflective state. In the reflective state, the reflective panel is disposed to redirect the beam of light from the first direction to the second direction. In the non-reflective state, the reflective panel is disposed to permit the light beam to travel along the first direction. The actuator is connected to the base member and the reflective panel and is operative to cause the reflective panel to move to and between the reflective state and the non-reflective state. An array of optical switch devices can be arranged to form a free-space optical matrix crossconnect apparatus.

Claims

1. An optical switch device for redirecting at least a portion of a beam of light traveling in free space along a first direction to a second direction different from the first direction, comprising:

a base member;

a reflective panel pivotally connected to the base member and unbiasedly movable between a reflective state wherein the reflective panel is disposed to redirect the beam of light from the first direction to the second direction and a non-reflective state wherein the reflective panel is disposed to permit the beam of light to travel along the first direction; and

an actuator connected to the base member and the reflective panel and operative to cause the reflective panel to move to and between the reflective state and the non-reflective state.

2. An optical switch device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective panel includes a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the first surface being reflective.

3. An optical switch device according to claim 2, wherein the second surface is reflective.

4. An optical switch device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective panel is fabricated from a material being partially reflective and partially transparent whereby, when the reflective panel is disposed in the reflective state, a portion of the beam of light is redirected to the second direction while a remaining portion of the beam of light continues in the first direction.

5. An optical switch device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a hinge assembly and a translation plate, the hinge assembly having at least one connecting rod with a first end of the connecting rod pivotally connected to the reflective panel and an opposite second end pivotally connected to the translation plate, the translation plate slidably connected to the base member and moveable between a first position wherein the reflective panel is in the reflective state and a second position wherein the reflective panel in the non-reflective state.

6. An optical switch device according to claim 5, wherein the actuator includes one of a scratch drive actuator mechanism and a comb drive mechanism, a respective one of the scratch drive actuator mechanism and the comb drive mechanism being connected to the translation plate and operative in conjunction with the base member to cause the translation plate to move to at least the first position.

7. An optical switch device according to claim 6, wherein the respective one of the scratch drive actuator mechanism and the comb drive mechanism causes the translation plate to move to the second position.

8. An optical switch device according to claim 6, wherein the actuator includes a spring element connected to and between the base member and the translation plate and operative to cause the translation plate to move from the first position to the second position.

9. An optical switch device according to claim 5, wherein the translation plate includes at least a first channel and a second channel and wherein the actuator includes a first driving pin and a second driving pin, the first driving pin sized for slidable engagement with the first channel and the second driving pin sized for slidable engagement with the second channel whereby the first driving pin slidably engages the first channel while the second driving pin retracts from the second channel so that the translation plate moves to the first position with the second driving pin being positioned offset relative to the second channel and the second driving pin slidably engages the second channel while the first driving pin retracts from the first channel so that the translation plate moves to the second position with the first driving pin being positioned offset relative to the first channel.

10. An optical switch device for reflecting at least one beam of light, comprising:

a base member;

reflective means connected to the base member and unbiasedly movable between a reflective state for reflecting the at least one beam of light and a non-reflective state; and

actuator means operative with the base member and the reflective means for causing the reflective means to move to and between the reflective state and the non-reflective state.

11. An optical switch device according to claim 10, wherein the reflective means includes a reflective panel having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, the first surface being reflective.

12. An optical switch device according to claim 11, wherein the second surface is reflective so that a second beam of light can be reflected while the first surface reflects the at least one beam of light.

13. An optical switch device according to claim 11, wherein the actuator means includes one of a scratch drive actuator mechanism and a comb drive mechanism.