Optical switching apparatus
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from a source to any one of a group of optical receptors comprising:
- a focusing lens for focusing an optical beam and directing the optical beam along a selected path;
a first movable mirror mounted in the selected path;
a plurality of second movable mirrors and a plurality of optical receptors;
a control for moving the first movable mirror to direct the optical beam to any selected second mirror and for moving the selected movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor for transmission of the optical beam from the focusing lens to the selected optical receptor; and
radiation emitters disposed adjacent each movable mirror to provide a feedback signal to the control for adjusting the position of the movable mirrors to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the receptor.
4 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical matrix switch station (1) is shown mounting a plurality of optical switch units (15, 17), each of which includes a mirror (29), moveable in two axes, for purpose of switching light beams from one optical fiber to another. A mirror assembly (41) is formed from a single body of silicon and comprises a frame portion (43), gimbals (45), mirror portion (47), and related hinges (55). Magnets (53, 54) and air coils (89) are utilized to position the central mirror surface (29) to a selected orientation. The moveable mirror and associated magnets along with control LED'"'"'s (71) are hermetically packaged in a header (81) and mounted with the air coils on mounting bracket (85) to form a micromirror assembly package (99) mounted in each optical switch unit.
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Citations
134 Claims
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1. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from a source to any one of a group of optical receptors comprising:
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a focusing lens for focusing an optical beam and directing the optical beam along a selected path;
a first movable mirror mounted in the selected path;
a plurality of second movable mirrors and a plurality of optical receptors;
a control for moving the first movable mirror to direct the optical beam to any selected second mirror and for moving the selected movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor for transmission of the optical beam from the focusing lens to the selected optical receptor; and
radiation emitters disposed adjacent each movable mirror to provide a feedback signal to the control for adjusting the position of the movable mirrors to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the receptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a plurality of sources to any one of a plurality of optical receptors comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources, for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of a plurality of second movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one of the first movable mirrors to a selected one of the plurality of optical receptors;
a plurality of optical receptors mounted across a third area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror by causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the second movable mirrors and (b) the selected second movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the optical receptors; and
radiation emitters for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a plurality of sources to any one of a plurality of optical receptors comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources;
at least one additional plurality of additional movable mirrors mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors;
a plurality of second movable mirrors mounted across a third area of free space from the plurality of additional movable mirrors;
the plurality of first movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one source to at least one of the plurality of additional movable mirrors;
the at least one additional plurality of additional movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam between at least one of the first movable mirrors and at least one of the second movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one of the additional movable mirrors to a selected one of the plurality of optical receptors;
the plurality of optical receptors mounted across a fourth area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror, causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the additional movable mirrors, (b) one of the additional movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected second movable mirror, and (c) at least one of the second movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor; and
radiation emitters for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of a plurality of second movable mirrors, each of said first mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from an associated one of the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways are defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one of the first movable mirrors to a selected one of the plurality of optical receptors, each of said second movable mirrors being mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors such that a plurality of second optical pathways are defined between the first movable mirrors and the second movable mirrors, said second movable mirrors comprising substantially the full set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said receptors free from any intervening movable mirrors and said second optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between the first movable mirrors and the second movable mirrors;
a plurality of optical receptors, each of said optical receptors mounted across a third area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors such that a plurality of third optical pathways are defined between the second movable mirrors and the receptors, the third optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the second movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, said first and second movable mirrors and said receptors being configured such that there is a three dimensional switch interface region optically interposed between said first movable mirrors and said second movable mirrors such that at least most of the second pathways for any possible connection between the first and second movable mirrors traverse said switch interface region and at least most of said first and third pathways are located wholly outside said region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror by causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the second movable mirrors and (b) the selected second movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the optical receptors; and
a servo control element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 84, 100)
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54. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of a plurality of additional movable mirrors, each of said first mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from an associated one of the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways are defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors;
the plurality of additional movable mirrors mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors such that a plurality of second optical pathways are defined between the first movable mirrors and the additional movable mirrors;
a plurality of second movable mirrors mounted across a third area of free space from the plurality of additional movable mirrors such that a plurality of third optical pathways are defined between the additional movable mirrors and the second movable mirrors, the second and third optical pathways collectively comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the first and second movable mirrors;
the plurality of first movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the plurality of additional movable mirrors;
the plurality of additional movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam between at least one of the first movable mirrors and at least one of the second movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one of the additional movable mirrors to selected one of the plurality of optical receptors;
the plurality of optical receptors mounted across a fourth area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors such that a plurality of fourth optical pathways is defined between the second movable mirrors and the optical receptors, the fourth optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the second movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, said first, additional and second movable mirrors and said receptors being configured such that there is a three dimensional switch interface region optically interposed between said first movable mirrors and said second movable mirrors such that at least most of the second and third pathways for any possible connection between the first and second movable mirrors traverse said switch interface region and at least most of said first and fourth pathways are located wholly outside said region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror by causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the additional movable mirrors, (b) the selected additional movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the second movable mirrors, and (c) the selected second movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the optical receptors; and
a servo control element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a first plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of a plurality of second movable mirrors, each of said mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from an associated one of the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways is defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one of the first movable mirrors to a selected one of the plurality of optical receptors, each of said second movable mirrors being mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors such that a plurality of second optical pathways is defined between the first movable mirrors and the second movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors;
a plurality of optical receptors, each of said optical receptors mounted across a third area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors such that a plurality of third optical pathways is defined between the second movable mirrors and the receptors, the third optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the second movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, said first and said second movable mirrors and said receptors being configured such that there is a three dimensional switch interface region optically interposed between said first movable mirrors and said second movable mirrors such that at least most of the second pathways for any possible connection between the first and second movable mirrors traverse said switch interface region and at least most of said first and third pathways are located wholly outside said region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor, by means of controlling a controlled mirror by causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the second movable mirrors and (b) the selected second movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the optical receptors; and
a data gathering and transmitting element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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85. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of a plurality of additional movable mirrors, each of said first mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from an associated one of the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways is defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors;
the plurality of additional movable mirrors mounted across a second area of free space from the plurality of first movable mirrors such that a plurality of second optical pathways is defined between the first movable mirrors and the additional movable mirrors;
a plurality of second movable mirrors mounted across a third area of free space from the plurality of additional movable mirrors such that a plurality of third optical pathways is defined between the additional movable mirrors and the second movable mirrors, the second and third optical pathways collectively comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the first and second movable mirrors;
the plurality of first movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the plurality of additional movable mirrors;
the plurality of additional movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam between at least one of the first movable mirrors and at least one of the second movable mirrors;
the plurality of second movable mirrors being operative for directing said optical beam from at least one of the additional movable mirrors to selected one of the plurality of optical receptors;
the plurality of optical receptors mounted across a fourth area of free space from said plurality of second movable mirrors such that a plurality of fourth optical pathways is defined between the second movable mirrors and the optical receptors, the fourth optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of optical pathways included in said switching system between the second movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, said first, additional and second movable mirrors and said receptors being configured such that there is a three dimensional switch interface region optically interposed between said first movable mirrors and said second movable mirrors such that at least most of the second and third pathways for any possible connection between the first and second movable mirrors traverse said switch interface region and at least most of said first and fourth pathways are located wholly outside said region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror, by causing at least one of (a) one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the additional movable mirrors, (b) the selected additional movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the second movable mirrors, and (c) the selected second movable mirror to direct the optical beam to a selected one of the optical receptors; and
a data gathering and transmitting element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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101. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a plurality of sources to any one of a plurality of optical receptors comprising:
- a plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources and across a second area of free space from the optical receptors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the optical receptors;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror, by causing one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor; and
radiation emitters for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111)
- a plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources and across a second area of free space from the optical receptors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the optical receptors;
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112. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the optical receptors, said plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways are defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors, said plurality of first movable mirrors further mounted across a second area of free space from the receptors such that a plurality of second optical pathways are defined between the first movable mirrors and the receptors, the second optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between the first movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, first movable mirrors and receptors being configured such that there is a first three dimensional region that is traversed by at least most of said second pathways and at least most of said first pathways are located wholly outside said first region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror, by causing one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor; and
a servo control element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 134)
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123. An optical beam switching system for transmitting an optical beam from any one of a complete set of sources of said switching system to any one of a complete set of optical receptors of said switching system comprising:
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a plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources and across a second area of free space from the optical receptors, for directing said optical beam from at least one source to a selected one of the optical receptors, said plurality of first movable mirrors mounted across a first area of free space from the sources such that a plurality of first optical pathways are defined between the sources and the first movable mirrors, said first movable mirrors comprising substantially a complete set of movable mirrors included in said switching system for directly interfacing with said sources free from any intervening movable mirrors and said first optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between said sources and said first movable mirrors, said plurality of first movable mirrors further mounted across a second area of free space from the receptors such that a plurality of second optical pathways are defined between the first movable mirrors and the receptors, the second optical pathways comprising substantially a complete set of pathways included in said switching system between the first movable mirrors and the receptors;
said sources, first movable mirrors and receptors being configured such that there is a first three dimensional region that is traversed by at least most of said second pathways and at least most of said first pathways are located wholly outside said first region;
a control for transmission of the optical beam from the source to a selected optical receptor by means of controlling a controlled mirror, by causing one of the first movable mirrors to direct the optical beam to a selected optical receptor; and
a data gathering and transmitting element for use in providing a feedback signal regarding the current orientation of the controlled mirror or the current location of the optical beam to the control, in either case for the purpose of adjusting the position of the relevant controlled mirror to minimize transmission loss of the optical beam to the optical receptor by fine tuning said orientation of said relevant controlled mirror based on said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133)
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Specification