Optical switch

• US 6,628,856 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Ho-Shang, Jones, Peter T., Costello, Benedict J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/671,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 385/18, 385/16
• US Class Current: 385/18
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3518 the reflective optical element being an intrinsic part of a MEMS device, i.e. fabricated together with the MEMS device MEMS devices in general B81B; manufacture of MEM devices in general B81C; micromechanical devices controlling the direction of light G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays 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 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation

Abstract

The optical switch includes input optical fibers, output optical fibers, a lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator operative to move the mirror. Depending on a voltage applied to the actuator, the actuator selectively set the mirror to a first position corresponding to a first combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set of the input optical fibers to the second set of the output optical fibers; and to a second position corresponding to a second combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set to the second set. The first combination is different from the second combination, and a number of optical fibers of the first set and the second set is more than two.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

a first set of one or more input optical fibers which supplies at least one light beam;

a second set of one or more output optical fibers which receives said light beam;

a lens which focuses said light beam;

a movable mirror which reflects said light beam from said first set onto said second set of output optical fibers; and

an actuator operative to move said mirror to a first position in a first combination of optical paths, through which said light beam travels from said first set to said second set, and to a second position in a second combination of optical paths, though which said light beam travels from said first set to said second set,

wherein said first combination is different from said second combination, and a total number of optical fibers in said first and second sets is more than two, said mirror and said actuator provided on a silicon wafer and said actuator comprising a plurality of interdigitated fingers, wherein said actuator moves said mirror by electrostatic force in a direction normal to a plane of said silicon wafer.

2. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a ferrule which supports said first set and said second set;

a package encasing said mirror and said actuator; and

a window which is made of transparent material and provided on said package;

wherein said lens is a gradient index lens, and is sandwiched by said ferrule and said window.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said second set comprises at least two optical fibers.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein loss between said first set and said second set when said mirror is in a first position is different from loss between said first set and said second set when said mirror is in a second position.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said first set has a first input optical fiber and a second input optical fiber, and said second set has a first output optical fiber and a second output optical fiber, and wherein

said first combination includes a first optical path between said first input optical fiber and said first output optical fiber, and a second optical path between said second input optical fiber and said second output optical fiber, and

said second combination includes a third optical path between said first input optical fiber and said second output optical fiber, and said second input optical fiber is decoupled from said first and second output optical fibers.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said first set has a first input optical fiber and a second input optical fiber, and said second set has a first output optical fiber and a second output optical fiber;

and wherein

said first combination includes a first optical path between said first input optical fiber and said first output optical fiber, and a second optical path between said second input optical fiber and said second output optical fiber, and

said second combination includes a third optical path between said first input optical fiber and said second output optical fiber, and a fourth optical path between said second input optical fiber and said fist output optical fiber.

7. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a ferrule which supports said first set and said second set.

8. The optical device of claim 7, further comprising a package encasing said mirror and said actuator.

9. The optical device of claims 8, said package has a window which is made of transparent material.

10. The optical device of claim 9, said lens is a gradient index lens, is connected to said ferrule, and is attached to said window.

11. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said moveable mirror pivots about an axis, and wherein said light beam has a path, the axis located in the path.

12. The optical device of claim 11 wherein said movable mirror reflects said light beam by pivoting about the axis in the path of said light beam.

13. An optical device comprising:

a first set of one or more input optical fibers which sends a light beam;

a send set of one or more output optical fibers which receives said light beam;

a lens which focuses said light beam;

a mirror within the path of said light beam, wherein said mirror pivots to change its angle in reflecting said light beam from said first set onto said second set of output optical fibers; and

an actuator operative to pivot said mirror to a first position, causing said light beam to travel from said first set to said second set, and to a second position, causing said light beam to travel from said first set to said second set, wherein the actuator comprises a micro-electro-mechanical actuator having interdigital fingers, the mirror comprises a reflective surface, and a voltage applied to the interdigital fingers creates a force normal to the reflective surface.

14. The optical device of claim 13 wherein the mirror pivots about a torsional spring.

15. The optical device of claim 13 wherein the actuator comprises a parallel plate capacitive structure.

16. The optical device of claim 15 wherein the parallel plate capacitive structure comprises driving electrodes used to position the mirror.

17. The optical device of claim 13 wherein the mirror pivots about an axis substantially normal to said optical fibers.