Piezoelectric optical relay
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
- a piezoelectric element;
a diaphragm having a first and a second side, said first side abutting said piezoelectric element;
an optical path comprising an entry point, a first egression point, a second egression point and a divergence point, said divergence point comprising a notch in said path; and
an optical element affixed to said second side;
wherein said optical element is moveable into said notch.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention uses the deflection of a piezoelectric element to move an optical element into contact with the face of an optical path to redirect an optical signal. In its undeflected state, the optical signal is reflected from the angled face of the optical path by internal reflection. When the piezoelectric actuator moves the optical element into contact with the angled face of the optical path, the index of refraction of the optical path is matched and the optical signal enters the optical element and passes through.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
-
a piezoelectric element;
a diaphragm having a first and a second side, said first side abutting said piezoelectric element;
an optical path comprising an entry point, a first egression point, a second egression point and a divergence point, said divergence point comprising a notch in said path; and
an optical element affixed to said second side;
wherein said optical element is moveable into said notch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of actuating an optical relay, said optical relay comprising an optical path having a first and second egressing paths and a notch, a point of divergence, an optical element and a chamber, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
causing said optical element to move into said notch by bending a diaphragm, said diaphragm being in contact with said optical element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
18. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
-
an optical path having a notch and a first and a second signal out path, said notch being located at a point where the first and second signal out paths converge;
an optical element situated to be inserted into said notch;
a diaphragm abutting a side of the optical element opposite said notch;
a piezoelectric element abutting a side of said diaphragm opposite said optical element;
wherein said optical element is moveable into said notch. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
-
a top cap layer;
an optical layer situated below said top cap layer, and a bottom cap layer situated below said optical layer, wherein said optical layer comprises a piezoelectric element, a diaphragm having a first and a second side, said first side abutting said piezoelectric element, an optical path comprising an entry point, a first egression port, a second egression port and a divergence point, said divergence point comprising a notch in said path, and an optical element affixed to said second side of said diaphragm;
wherein said optical element is moveable into said notch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification