High resolution fault-tolerant fiber-optical beam control modules
First Claim
1. A macro-pixel operable in a mixed mode control technique, the macropixel having a plurality of controllable pixel devices, each of the pixel devices addressable by at least one of a digital and analog signals to cause the addressed pixel device to be individually controllable in selected positions between a fully off position and a fully on position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high resolution, fault tolerant, variable optical attenuator and polarizer module for fiber optical beam control using parallel, serial, and serial-parallel optical control architectures. The module uses mixed control modes to control a macropixel array and includes spatially multiplexed processing techniques. The macropixel array consists of an array of individually controlled pixels, such as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror array, where each pixel has a specific addressable location in the array, and each pixel can have a unique size, shape and electrical or optical drive format. The module can provide amplitude, routing, and polarization control of an input optical beam. In an embodiment, the module can control the gain of a light beam in fiber optical systems coupled to lenses. In another embodiment, the modules can be cascaded to form a high-resolution fiber optic attenuator. In yet another embodiment, the modules can be used in 1×N optical switching applications having on demand gain control.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A macro-pixel operable in a mixed mode control technique, the macropixel having a plurality of controllable pixel devices, each of the pixel devices addressable by at least one of a digital and analog signals to cause the addressed pixel device to be individually controllable in selected positions between a fully off position and a fully on position.
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6. An optical micromechanical system for controlling reflectivity of a light beam from an optical source, the system including a macropixel comprising a plurality of individual micromirrors which are closely spaced with respect to the wavelength of the light beam, each of the micromirrors being electronically controllable to effect a mechanical movement, the macropixel being operable in a first mode for concurrently maintaining an alignment of the micromirrors at a common displacement for maximizing reflection of the light beam in a selected path, the macropixel being operable in a second mode for aligning some of the micromirrors in a different displacement so as to effectively attenuate the reflected light beam, the displacement of the micromirrors comprising an angular tilt of each micromirror;
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a bi-directional light transfer device positioned for transmitting a light beam onto said macropixel and for receiving a light beam reflected from said macropixel, said micromirrors being individually angularly controllable to adjust the intensity of the light reflected back to said transfer device; and
said bi-directional light transfer device including a fiber lens and at least two fiber-optical cables coupled to one side of said fiber lens. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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- 9. A polarization based system for controlling transmissivity of a light beam from an said optical source, the system including a macropixel comprising a plurality of individually electronically controlled liquid crystal pixels that effect the transmission and polarization of the incident beam that is received by an optical receiver.
Specification