Optical switching system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A optical switching system comprising:
- a moveable reflecting surface to redirect light from a light source;
a moveable electrode coupled to the moveable reflecting surface, the moveable electrode moving in a trajectory in a motion plane; and
a fixed electrode, the fixed electrode fixed to a substrate, the fixed electrode to control movement of said moveable electrode, the fixed electrode positioned laterally adjacent to the moveable electrode, such that when the moveable electrode moves through the trajectory and contacts the substrate, the moveable electrode is adjacent to and not superimposed over the fixed electrode.
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Abstract
A MEMS system including a fixed electrode and a suspended moveable electrode that is controllable over a wide range of motion. In traditional systems where an fixed electrode is positioned under the moveable electrode, the range of motion is limited because the support structure supporting the moveable electrode becomes unstable when the moveable electrode moves too close to the fixed electrode. By repositioning the fixed electrode from being directly underneath the moving electrode, a much wider range of controllable motion is achievable. Wide ranges of controllable motion are particularly important in optical switching applications.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A optical switching system comprising:
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a moveable reflecting surface to redirect light from a light source;
a moveable electrode coupled to the moveable reflecting surface, the moveable electrode moving in a trajectory in a motion plane; and
a fixed electrode, the fixed electrode fixed to a substrate, the fixed electrode to control movement of said moveable electrode, the fixed electrode positioned laterally adjacent to the moveable electrode, such that when the moveable electrode moves through the trajectory and contacts the substrate, the moveable electrode is adjacent to and not superimposed over the fixed electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A optical switching system comprising:
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a moveable reflecting surface to redirect light from a light source;
a moveable electrode coupled to the moveable reflecting surface; and
a fixed electrode wherein the fixed electrode is triangular in shape, the fixed electrode fixed to a substrate, the fixed electrode to control movement of said moveable electrode, the fixed electrode positioned such that when the moveable electrode is translated into the substrate along a line perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, the moveable electrode does not contact the fixed electrode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification