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Method and apparatus for low loss via geometrical optimization in free-space micro-machined optical switches

  • US 6,317,532 B1
  • Filed: 10/29/1999
  • Issued: 11/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus that limits coupling loss due to divergence of a light beam, having a half-beam waist w0, traveling a path of i mirror pitches in a free-space micro-machined optical switch, the apparatus comprising:

  • an emitting fiber-optic cable which emits the light beam in a first direction of the path;

    a receiving fiber-optic cable which receives the light beam from a second direction of the path; and

    a free-rotating mirror, having a mirror radius of R, positioned such that it is juxtaposed at a point at an end of each of the emitting and receiving fiber-optic cables and can thus reflect the path of the light beam from the first direction to the second direction, wherein a value of the mirror radius R is such that when divided by the half-beam waist w0 of the light beam it provides an optimum value of a normalized mirror radius a at which point there is a minimum coupling loss for the path of i mirror pitches the light beam travels.

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