Micromechanical optical switch
First Claim
1. A fault tolerant network, comprising:
- an ingress access node operable to receive an optical signal from a network element external to the fault tolerant network; and
a fault tolerant node operable to receive the optical signal from the ingress access node and to perform a switching operation on the optical signal depending on a voltage applied to an optical switching element within the fault tolerant node, wherein the fault tolerant node allows transmission of the optical signal when no voltage is applied to the optical switching element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical switch element is described, which includes a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate and a movable mirror assembly disposed outwardly from the fixed layer. The moveable mirror assembly is operable to move relative to the fixed layer responsive to a voltage applied to the movable mirror assembly. In a particular embodiment, the movable mirror assembly includes an inner strip spaced apart from the fixed layer by a first distance and an outer strip disposed approximately adjacent to the inner strip and spaced apart from the fixed layer by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The optical transmission of the optical switch element changes depending on the position of the movable mirror assembly.
140 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A fault tolerant network, comprising:
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an ingress access node operable to receive an optical signal from a network element external to the fault tolerant network; and
a fault tolerant node operable to receive the optical signal from the ingress access node and to perform a switching operation on the optical signal depending on a voltage applied to an optical switching element within the fault tolerant node, wherein the fault tolerant node allows transmission of the optical signal when no voltage is applied to the optical switching element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical processing device comprising:
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a demultiplexer operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to select at least one of the optical signal wavelengths;
a plurality of lenses each having a central axis and each capable of receiving at least a portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength;
at least one optical switching element disposed between a first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises;
a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and
a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to receive the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength from the first lens of the plurality of lenses and to reflect the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength to the second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of communication optical signals, comprising:
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selecting at least one of a plurality of optical signal wavelengths;
receiving at least a portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength at a first lens of a plurality of lenses;
receiving the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength at an optical switching element comprising a fixed layer and a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer, the fixed layer and the unitary moveable mirror layer forming a cavity;
applying a voltage to the optical switching element to change the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer and cause a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to reflect the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength to a second lens of the plurality of lenses depending on the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of communication optical signals, comprising:
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selecting at least one of a plurality of optical signal wavelengths;
receiving at least a portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength at a first lens of a plurality of lenses;
receiving the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength at an optical switching element comprising a fixed layer and a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer, the fixed layer and the unitary moveable mirror layer forming a cavity;
applying a voltage to the optical switching element to change the position of the unitary moveable mirror structure relative to the fixed layer and cause a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to communicate the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength to a second lens of the plurality of lenses when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a first position relative to the fixed layer, and wherein the second lens does not receive the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a second position relative to the fixed layer.
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27. An optical processing device comprising:
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a demultiplexer operable to receive a multiple wavelength optical signal and to select at least one of the optical signal wavelengths;
a first lens of a plurality of lenses, the first lens operable to receive at least a portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength;
at least one optical switching element disposed between the first lens and a second lens of the plurality of lenses, the at least one optical switching element operable to receive the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength from the first lens, wherein the at least one optical switching element comprises;
a fixed layer disposed outwardly from a substrate; and
a unitary moveable mirror structure disposed outwardly from the fixed layer and forming with the fixed layer a cavity, the unitary moveable mirror structure operable to move relative to the fixed layer in response to a voltage applied to the unitary moveable mirror structure to affect a change in a characteristic of the optical switching element; and
wherein the at least one optical switching element is operable to communicate the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength to the second lens of the plurality of lenses when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a first position relative to the fixed layer, and wherein the second lens does not receive the portion of the at least one selected optical signal wavelength when the unitary moveable mirror structure is in a second position relative to the fixed layer.
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Specification