Longitudinal mode solid slug optical latching relay
First Claim
1. A piezoelectric optical relay array of one or more array elements, wherein an array element of the one or more array elements comprises:
- a first input optical path;
a first output optical path, optically aligned with the first input optical path to form a direct optical path;
a second output optical path intersecting the first input optical path;
a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of the first input optical path and the second output optical path;
a solid slug adapted to move within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar surface wettable by liquid metal;
a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel so that it blocks the direct optical path and completes a reflected optical path from the first input optical path to the second output optical path; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel to remove it from the direct optical path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezoelectric optical relay array having one or more array elements. Each array element contains a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A solid slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing by the action of piezoelectric elements. A surface of the solid slug is wetted by a liquid metal to form a reflective surface. The solid slug is moved in or out of the transparent mirror housing to select between the optical paths. When the solid slug is within the transparent mirror housing, an incoming optical signal is reflected from the reflective surface of the liquid metal. The liquid metal adheres to wettable metal surfaces within the channel to provide a latching mechanism.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric optical relay array of one or more array elements, wherein an array element of the one or more array elements comprises:
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a first input optical path;
a first output optical path, optically aligned with the first input optical path to form a direct optical path;
a second output optical path intersecting the first input optical path;
a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of the first input optical path and the second output optical path;
a solid slug adapted to move within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar surface wettable by liquid metal;
a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel so that it blocks the direct optical path and completes a reflected optical path from the first input optical path to the second output optical path; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel to remove it from the direct optical path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A piezoelectric optical latching relay array, comprising:
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a plurality of input optical paths;
a plurality of first output optical path, optically aligned with the plurality of input optical paths to form a plurality of direct optical paths;
a plurality of second output optical paths intersecting the plurality of input optical path at a plurality of intersections; and
at each of intersection of the plurality of intersections;
a transparent mirror housing;
a solid slug moveably located within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar face wettable by liquid metal;
a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel so that it blocks a direct optical path of the plurality of direct optical path and completes a reflected optical path from an input optical path of the plurality of input optical path to a second output optical path of the plurality of second output optical paths; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel to remove the solid slug from a direct optical path of the plurality of direct optical paths.
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13. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array comprising in sequence:
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an upper spacer layer comprising a first piezoelectric element;
a first pair of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the first piezoelectric element;
an upper optical path layer comprising a first direct optical path and a first reflected optical path, the first direct optical path and the first reflected optical path having an intersection;
a middle spacer layer;
a lower spacer layer comprising a second piezoelectric element;
a second pair of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the second piezoelectric element;
a transparent mirror housing located at the intersection of the first direct optical path and the first reflected optical path;
a solid slug wetted by a liquid metal and moveable positioned within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing;
wherein, the first piezoelectric element is operable to move the solid slug to a first position removed from the first direct optical path and the second piezoelectric element is operable to move the solid slug to a second position, within the direct optical path, where it completes the first reflected optical path by reflecting light from a wetted surface of the solid slug. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an upper seal belt layer between the upper spacer layer and the upper optical path layer and comprising an upper wettable metal contact;
an middle seal belt layer between the upper optical path layer and the middle spacer layer and comprising a middle wettable metal contact; and
a lower seal belt layer between the middle spacer layer and the lower spacer layer and comprising an lower wettable metal contact;
wherein, in the first position, the solid slug is coupled by the liquid metal to the wettable metal contacts in the upper and middle seal belt layers and, in the second position, the solid slug is coupled by the liquid metal to the wettable metal contacts in the middle and lower seal belt layers.
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15. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array in accordance with claim 14, wherein the channel passes the upper, middle and lower seal belt layers and further comprising a pressure relief vent opening to the channel in the upper seal belt layer and the lower seal belt layer.
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16. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array in accordance with claim 14, wherein the hollow transparent housing passes the upper, middle and lower seal belt layers and further comprising a pressure relief vent opening to the hollow transparent housing in the upper seal belt layer and the lower seal belt layer.
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17. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array in accordance with claim 13, wherein the middle spacer layer comprises a second direct optical path and a second reflected optical path.
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18. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array in accordance with claim 13, wherein the upper optical path layer comprises a plurality of first direct optical paths and a plurality of first reflected optical paths.
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19. A micro-machined piezoelectric optical relay array in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:
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an upper circuit layer positioned on top of the upper spacer layer;
a lower circuit layer positioned below the lower spacer layer, wherein the first pair of electrical connectors passes through the upper circuit layer and terminates in a first pair of interconnection pads and the second pair of electrical connectors passes through the lower circuit layer and terminates in a second pair of interconnection pads.
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20. A method for selecting between a direct optical path and a reflected optical path in a piezoelectric optical relay having a liquid metal coated solid slug moveable by a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element, the method comprising:
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coupling an input optical signal to an input optical waveguide of the piezoelectric optical relay, the input optical waveguide being optically aligned with a first output optical waveguide to form the direct optical path;
if the direct optical path is to be selected;
applying an electrical impulse to the first piezoelectric element to move the solid slug out of the direct optical path, whereby the input optical waveguide is optically coupled to first output optical waveguide; and
if the reflected optical path is to be selected;
applying an electrical impulse to the second piezoelectric element to move the solid slug into the direct optical path, whereby the input optical signal is reflected from a surface of the liquid metal coated solid slug into a second output optical waveguide to complete the reflected optical path.
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21. A piezoelectric optical relay array of one or more array elements, wherein an array element of the one or more array elements comprises:
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a first input optical path;
a first output optical path, optically aligned with the first input optical path to form a direct optical path;
a second output optical path intersecting the first input optical path;
a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of the first input optical path and the second output optical path;
a solid slug adapted to move within the channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar surface wettable by liquid metal;
a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric means for moving the solid slug within the channel to block the direct optical path and complete a reflected optical path from the first input optical path to the second output optical path; and
a second piezoelectric means for moving the solid slug within the channel to remove it from the direct optical path.
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22. A piezoelectric optical latching relay array, comprising:
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a plurality of input optical paths;
a plurality of first output path, optically aligned with the plurality of input optcal paths to form a plurality of direct optical paths;
a plurlity of second output optical paths intersecting the plurality of input optical path at a plurality of intersections; and
at each of intersection of the plurality of intersections;
a transparent mirror housing;
a solid slug moveably located within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar face wettable by liquid metal;
a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric means for moving the solid slug within the channel so that it blocks a direct a direct optical path of the plurality of direct optical path and completes a reflected optical path from an input optical path of the plurality of input optical papth to a second output optical path of the plurality of second output optical paths; and
a second piezoelectric means for moving the solid slug within the channel to remove the solid slug from a direct optical path of the plurality of direct optical paths.
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Specification