Compact DMD-based optical module

• US 7,203,398 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Powell, Donald A., Koontz, Elisabeth Marley
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/393,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 385 14- 24, 385/31, 385/37, 385/47, 385/33, 385/50, 398/43, 398/45, 398 49- 50, 398 82- 88, 359196-198, 359208-210, 359/223, 359871-872
• US Class Current: 385/37
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/352 the reflective optical element having a shaped reflective surface, e.g. a reflective element comprising several reflective surfaces or facets that function together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3552 1x1 switch, e.g. on/off switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3588 of the processed beams, i.e. controlling during switching of orientation, alignment, or beam propagation properties such as intensity, size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3594 Characterised by additional functional means, e.g. means for variably attenuating or branching or means for switching differently polarized beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical module having an integral optical waveguide with waveguide ports at each end. The optical waveguide receives an input light beam through a first waveguide port. The input light beam passes through the waveguide and is emitted from the second waveguide port, where it is reflected by the reflective surface. After being reflected by the reflective surface, the input light beam can be directed onto the surface of a DMD array, where the input light beam can be selectively reflected in a particular direction. The reflective surface may also comprise a diffractive grating, thereby enabling wavelength selective switching. In addition, the reflective surface may comprise a generally concave surface that converts a diverging input light beam into a generally collimated light beam, thereby facilitating more accurate selection and switching by the DMD array.

Claims

1. An optical beam module comprising:

a base member,

at least one optical waveguide formed in the base member and operable to transmit an input light beam;

an inclined member formed in the base member positioned to intercept the input light beam transmitted by the optical waveguide;

a micromirror array; and

a reflective diffractive region receiving the input light beam from the inclined member and reflecting components of the input beam toward separate regions of the micromirror array according to the wavelength of the components.

2. An optical beam module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective region is further adapted to receive an output light beam reflected by the micromirror array and reflect the output light beam toward the at least one optical waveguide.

3. An optical beam module according to claim 1, further comprising an optical dump adapted to substantially absorb a light beam reflected by the micromirror array.

4. An optical beam module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective diffractive region is generally concave.

5. An optical beam module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective diffractive region is integral to the base member.

6. An optical beam module according to claim 1, wherein the reflective diffractive region is mounted to the base member.

7. An optical beam module adapted to be operated with a micromirror array, the optical beam module comprising:

a base member;

a first integral optical waveguide formed in the base member operable to transmit an input light beam;

an inclined member formed in the base member positioned to intercept the input light beam transmitted by the integral optical waveguide;

a micromirror array;

a first reflective region to reflect the light intercepted by the inclined member toward the micromirror array;

a second integral optical waveguide formed in the base member; and

a second reflective region to reflect an output light beam received from the micromirror array to the second integral optical waveguide, wherein the first reflective region comprises a diffractive surface operable to separate the input light beam into a plurality of input light beams according to wavelength, and wherein the second reflective region comprises a diffractive surface operable to combine a plurality of output light beams.

8. The optical beam module according to claim 7 wherein the first reflective region and the second reflective region are the regions of a single reflective surface.

9. An optical beam module according to claim 7, further comprising an optical dump adapted to substantially absorb a light beam reflected by the micromirror array.

10. An optical beam module according to claim 7, wherein the first and second integral optical waveguides are disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the micromirror array.

11. An optical beam module according to claim 7, wherein the first and second reflective regions are generally concave.

12. An optical beam module according to claim 7, wherein the first and second reflective regions are integral to the optical beam module.

13. An optical beam module according to claim 7, wherein the first and second reflective regions are mounted to the optical beam module.

14. An optical beam module comprising:

a base member,

an input waveguide formed in the base member operable to transmit a first light beam;

an add waveguide formed in the base member operable to transmit a second light beam;

a drop waveguide formed in the base member operable to transmit a third light beam;

an express waveguide formed in the base member operable to transmit an fourth light beam;

a micromirror array;

a first reflective region adapted to reflect the first light beam toward the micromirror army and adapted to reflect the fourth light beam from the micromirror array toward the express waveguide;

wherein the first reflective region comprises a first diffractive region adapted to receive and separate the first light beam into a plurality of input light beams according to wavelength, the first diffractive region being further adapted to receive and combine a plurality of output light beams from the micromirror array into the fourth light beam;

a second reflective region adapted to reflect the second light beam toward the micromirror array and adapted to reflect a third light beam from the micromirror array in the direction of the third waveguide; and

wherein the second reflective region comprises a second diffractive region adapted to receive and separate the second light beam into a plurality of additive light beams according to wavelength, the second diffractive region being further adapted to receive and combine a plurality of subtractive light beams from the micromirror array into the third light beam.

15. An optical beam module according to claim 14, wherein each of the waveguides is disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the micromirror array.

16. An optical beam module according to claim 14 wherein the first reflective region and the second reflective region are the same reflective surface.

17. An optical beam module according to claim 16, wherein the reflective region is generally concave.

18. An optical beam module according to claim 16, wherein the reflective region is integral to the optical beam module.