Two-dimensional free-space optical wavelength routing element based on stepwise controlled tilting mirrors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microstructure for steering light, the microstructure comprising:
- a structural film;
a pivot member connected with the structural film and supporting a base, the base including a reflective coating;
at least three noncollinear fixed rotational actuators connected with the structural film, each such fixed rotational actuator being configured to deflect the base towards the structural film upon activation; and
a movable hard stop connected with the structural film, wherein the base assumes one of a plurality of tilt positions according to which of such fixed rotational actuators is activated and according to a position of such movable hard stop.
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Abstract
A microstructure for steering light is provided that may be stepwise controlled to provide tilt positions in two dimensions. The arrangement is two-dimensional since a tilt axis may be defined as the axis along which the base is tilted to move from one of the two tilt positions to the other. At least one additional tilt position is provided that cannot be reached from either of those two tilt positions by tilting the micromirror assembly along the tilt axis. Instead, such an additional tilt position requires that there at least be a tilt component in a direction orthogonal to the tilt axis.
30 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A microstructure for steering light, the microstructure comprising:
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a structural film;
a pivot member connected with the structural film and supporting a base, the base including a reflective coating;
at least three noncollinear fixed rotational actuators connected with the structural film, each such fixed rotational actuator being configured to deflect the base towards the structural film upon activation; and
a movable hard stop connected with the structural film, wherein the base assumes one of a plurality of tilt positions according to which of such fixed rotational actuators is activated and according to a position of such movable hard stop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for fabricating a microstructure for steering light, the method comprising:
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forming a pivot member on a structural film;
forming a base on the pivot member;
depositing a reflective coating on the base;
forming at least three noncollinear fixed rotational actuators over the structural film, each such fixed rotational actuator being configured to deflect the base towards the structural film upon activation; and
forming a movable hard stop over the structural film such that the base may assume a plurality of tilt positions by activating a selection of such fixed rotational actuators and moving the movable hard stop to a desired position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for steering light from an input port to one of a plurality of output ports, the method comprising:
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tilting a micromirror assembly among at least three tilt positions that correspond to three of the output ports, wherein a first and second of such at least three tilt positions define a tilt axis and a third of such at least three tilt positions includes a tilt component orthogonal to the tilt axis, and wherein tilting the micromirror assembly comprises moving a movable hard stop; and
reflecting light provided by such input port off the micromirror assembly to such one output port. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for defining alignment of a plurality of micromirror assemblies between input and output ports comprising, for each such micromirror assembly:
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tilting the micromirror assembly to at least three different tilt positions, at least one of which has a tilt component orthogonal to a tilt axis defined by another pair of such tilt positions;
measuring an alignment acceptability for each such tilt position; and
determining which of such positions provides the greatest alignment acceptability. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A microstructure for steering light, the microstructure comprising;
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support means;
micromirror means connected with the support means and tiltable to at least three tilt positions, wherein a first and second of such at least three tilt positions define a tilt axis and a third of such at least three tilt positions includes a tilt component orthogonal to the tilt axis, and wherein the micromirror means comprises movable hard stop means connected with the support means to define the at least three tilt positions. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A wavelength router for receiving, at an input port, light having a plurality of spectral bands and directing subsets of the spectral bands to respective ones of a plurality of output ports, the wavelength router comprising:
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a free-space optical train disposed between the input port and the output ports providing optical paths for routing the spectral bands, the optical train including a dispersive element disposed to intercept light traveling from the input port; and
a routing mechanism having at least one dynamically configurable routing element to direct a given spectral band to different output ports depending on a state of the dynamically configurable routing element, wherein the dynamically configurable routing element includes;
a micromirror assembly that includes a base connected with a structural film by a pivot member;
at least three noncollinear fixed rotational actuators connected with the structural film, each such fixed rotational actuator being configured to deflect the base towards the structural film upon activation; and
a movable hard stop connected with the structural film, wherein the base assumes one of a plurality of tilt positions according to which of such fixed rotational actuators is activated and according to a position of such movable hard stop. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification