Micromirror optical switch
First Claim
1. An optical switch comprising:
- at least one input fiber, each said input fiber defining an input optical axis and having an exit end;
at least one output fiber, each said output fiber defining an output optical axis and having an entrance end;
a retro-reflective surface between said exit and entrance ends; and
a mirror array, said mirror array defining an x-y plane substantially parallel to said retro-reflective surface, said mirror array comprised of at least one mirror on each said input optical axis and said output optical axis, said mirrors on said input optical axes operable to rotate about a single axis parallel to said x-y plane to deflect light from each input fiber to at least one intermediate spot on said retro-reflector, said mirrors on said output optical axes operable to reflect light from at least one of said intermediate spots of said retro-reflector to an associated output fiber sharing said output axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A family of optical switches. Each switch (400) includes a holder block (402) to hold optical fibers (410, 412) and ferrules (414) in alignment with a micromirror array (406). The holder block 402 has a reflective bottom surface (404). The bottom surface (404) functions as a retro-reflector when the optical switch (400) is assembled. The micromirror array (406) has a substrate on which rows of micromirrors have been fabricated. The ferrules (414) are held at an angle relative to the micromirror array (406). This angle allows the light emitted from the input fiber (410) to traverse the array of micromirrors (406) to the output fiber (412). Light from the input fiber (410) is reflected between a series of mirrors (408) and the retro-reflective surface (404) until reaching the output fiber (412). The rotation of the mirrors determines the path of light across the mirror array (406) and which output fiber (412) the light reaches.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. An optical switch comprising:
-
at least one input fiber, each said input fiber defining an input optical axis and having an exit end;
at least one output fiber, each said output fiber defining an output optical axis and having an entrance end;
a retro-reflective surface between said exit and entrance ends; and
a mirror array, said mirror array defining an x-y plane substantially parallel to said retro-reflective surface, said mirror array comprised of at least one mirror on each said input optical axis and said output optical axis, said mirrors on said input optical axes operable to rotate about a single axis parallel to said x-y plane to deflect light from each input fiber to at least one intermediate spot on said retro-reflector, said mirrors on said output optical axes operable to reflect light from at least one of said intermediate spots of said retro-reflector to an associated output fiber sharing said output axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An optical switch comprising:
-
at least one input fiber, each said input fiber defining an input optical axis and having an exit end;
at least one output fiber, each said output fiber defining an output optical axis and having an entrance end;
a retro-reflective surface between said exit and entrance ends; and
a mirror array, said mirror array defining an x-y plane substantially parallel to said retro-reflective surface, said mirror array comprised of at least one mirror on each said input optical axis and said output optical axis and at least one intermediate mirror, said mirrors on said input optical axes operable to rotate about a single axis parallel to said x-y plane to deflect light from each input fiber to at least one intermediate spot on said retro-reflector, said mirrors on said output optical axes operable to reflect light from at least one of said intermediate spots of said retro-reflector to an associated output fiber sharing said output axis, said intermediate mirrors operable to rotate about a single axis parallel to said x-y plane to deflect light from at least one intermediate spot to at least one other intermediate spot. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification