Optical switch

• US 6,560,002 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited, Kidwell Environmental, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Mori, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US09/992,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 359/247, 359/254, 359/214, 359/224, 359/230, 359/231, 359/320, 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/293, 359/295, 359/871, 310/90, 310/309, 310/36, 735/040.2, 735/041.2, 257/418, 257/420, 267/3, 267/140.5, 267/136, 347/255, 347/135
• US Class Current: 359/247
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3514 the reflective optical element moving along a line so as to translate into and out of the beam path, i.e. across the beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3584 constructional details of an associated actuator having a MEMS construction, i.e. constructed using semiconductor technology such as etching MEMS per se B81B, B81C

Abstract

An optical switch that any vibration or oscillation transmitted to the optical switch from the outside is substantially prevented from being transmitted to a movable electrode is provided. In an optical switch comprising: a stationary electrode; a movable electrode opposed to the stationary electrode with a predetermined space therebetween; and a mirror mounted to the movable electrode, wherein the movable electrode and the mirror are moved together by applying a voltage between the stationary electrode and the movable electrode thereby to switch the path of an incident optical signal to the optical switch, a buffer member provided with a diaphragm is attached to the bottom of the stationary electrode, and a vibration or oscillation is substantially prevented from being transmitted to the movable electrode by the damping effects of the diaphragm and the space area formed above the diaphragm.

Claims

1. An optical switch comprising:

a stationary electrode;

a movable electrode opposed to said stationary electrode with a predetermined space therebetween;

a mirror mounted to said movable electrode; and

a buffer member provided with a diaphragm and attached to the bottom of the stationary electrode,

wherein the movable electrode and the mirror are moved together by applying a voltage between the stationary electrode and the movable electrode thereby to switch the path of an incident optical signal to the optical switch.

2. The optical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said buffer member comprises:

a diaphragm of a predetermined thickness;

a peripheral wall formed on and integrally with the periphery of said diaphragm for supporting the diaphragm and including a first frame-like portion protruding upwardly from the top surface of the diaphragm and a second frame-like portion protruding downwardly from the bottom surface of the diaphragm;

at least one ventilating cutout formed in the first frame-like portion of said peripheral wall on the top surface side of the diaphragm; and

a pedestal mount portion formed on and integrally with substantially the central portion of the bottom surface of the diaphragm and protruding downwardly.

3. The optical switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first frame-like portion of the peripheral wall of the buffer member on the top surface side of the diaphragm is joined with the bottom surface of the stationary electrode to form a space area communicating with the outside atmosphere through only said cutout between the top surface of the diaphragm and the bottom surface of the stationary electrode, and an external vibration or oscillation is substantially prevented from being transmitted to the movable electrode by the damping effects of the diaphragm and the space area.

4. The optical switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein the height of the first frame-like portion of the peripheral wall of the buffer member on the top surface side of the diaphragm is about 5 μ

m, and the thickness of the space area formed between the top surface of the diaphragm and the bottom surface of the stationary electrode is about 5 μ

m.

5. The optical switch as set forth in claim 4, wherein the diaphragm of the buffer member is formed out of a generally square or rectangular silicon substrate, and the peripheral wall of a generally square or rectangle formed on and integrally with the periphery of the diaphragm and the pedestal mount portion formed on and integrally with substantially the central portion of the bottom surface of the diaphragm are also formed out of said silicon substrate, and the cutout reaching the top surface of the diaphragm is formed on the generally square or rectangular first frame-like portion of the peripheral wall on the top surface side of the diaphragm at opposed positions thereof.

6. The optical switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein the diaphragm of the buffer member is formed out of a generally square or rectangular silicon substrate, and the peripheral wall of a generally square or rectangle formed on and integrally with the periphery of the diaphragm and the pedestal mount portion formed on and integrally with substantially the central portion of the bottom surface of the diaphragm are also formed out of said silicon substrate, and the cutout reaching the top surface of the diaphragm is formed on the generally square or rectangular first frame-like portion of the peripheral wall on the top surface side of the diaphragm at opposed positions thereof.

7. The optical switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diaphragm of the buffer member is formed out of a generally square or rectangular silicon substrate, and the peripheral wall of a generally square or rectangle formed on and integrally with the periphery of the diaphragm and the pedestal mount portion formed on and integrally with substantially the central portion of the bottom surface of the diaphragm are also formed out of said silicon substrate, and the cutout reaching the top surface of the diaphragm is formed on the generally square or rectangular first frame-like portion of the peripheral wall on the top surface side of the diaphragm at opposed positions thereof.