Longitudinal mode 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 liquid metal slug adapted to move within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the liquid metal slug having a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the liquid metal 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 liquid metal 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 liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing by the action of piezoelectric elements. The liquid metal slug is moved in or out of the transparent mirror housing to select between the optical paths. When the liquid metal slug is within the transparent mirror housing, an incoming optical signal is reflected from a reflective surface of the slug. The liquid metal of the slug adheres to wettable metal surfaces within the channel to provide a latching mechanism.
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Citations
20 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 liquid metal slug adapted to move within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the liquid metal slug having a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the liquid metal 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 liquid metal 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 paths, 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 paths at a plurality of intersections; and
at each of intersection of the plurality of intersections;
a transparent mirror housing;
a liquid metal slug moveably located within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the liquid metal slug having a reflective surface;
a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the liquid metal 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 paths to a second output optical path of the plurality of second output optical paths; and
a second piezoelectric actuator operable to move the liquid metal slug within the channel to remove the liquid metal 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:
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an upper spacer layer containing a first piezoelectric element;
a first pair of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the first piezoelectric element;
an upper optical path layer containing 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 containing 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; and
a liquid metal slug moveably positioned within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing;
wherein, the first piezoelectric element is operable to move the liquid metal slug to a first position removed from the first direct optical path and the second piezoelectric element is operable to move the liquid metal slug to a second position, within the direct optical path, where it completes the first reflected optical path by reflecting light from a surface of the liquid metal slug. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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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 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 liquid metal 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 liquid metal slug into the direct optical path, whereby the input optical signal is reflected from a surface of the liquid metal slug into a second output optical waveguide to complete the reflected optical path.
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Specification