Optical router switch array and method for manufacture
First Claim
1. An optical router switch array comprising:
- a plurality of switchable mirror elements for reflecting and transmitting an incident beam of light;
the plurality of switchable elements comprising a holographic liquid crystal in stacked cells;
said mirror elements having alternating liquid crystal polymer and LMWLC layers;
said mirror elements being disposed as side by side groups in each said stacked cell;
a pair of substrates sandwiching each stacked cell and thereby spacing the said side by side groups of mirror elements in the cell from side by side groups of mirror elements of other stacked cells; and
each one mirror element of said plurality of switchable mirror elements including pixilated electrodes at said sandwiching substrates that are electrically isolated from pixilated electrodes of other switchable mirror elements of said plurality of switchable mirror elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical router switch array includes a plurality of switchable mirror elements having holographic liquid crystal arranged in stack cells. Each of the mirror elements is isolated electrically from the other switchable mirror elements by a plurality of substrates alternative arranged between the switchable mirror elements. Holographic gratings are formed on the holographic liquid crystal by exposure to holography at predetermined incident angles. A single switchable mirror element can also be provided in cases where an array is not required. The switchable mirror elements are polarization insensitive, stable within the operational spectral region, and stable versus temperature. The invention also includes methods for manufacturing a single switchable mirror element and the optical arrray.
44 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An optical router switch array comprising:
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a plurality of switchable mirror elements for reflecting and transmitting an incident beam of light;
the plurality of switchable elements comprising a holographic liquid crystal in stacked cells;
said mirror elements having alternating liquid crystal polymer and LMWLC layers;
said mirror elements being disposed as side by side groups in each said stacked cell;
a pair of substrates sandwiching each stacked cell and thereby spacing the said side by side groups of mirror elements in the cell from side by side groups of mirror elements of other stacked cells; and
each one mirror element of said plurality of switchable mirror elements including pixilated electrodes at said sandwiching substrates that are electrically isolated from pixilated electrodes of other switchable mirror elements of said plurality of switchable mirror elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for manufacturing an optical router switch array comprising the steps of
(a) providing a plurality of switchable mirror elements comprising a liquid crystal housed in a plurality of stacked cells; -
(b) providing a plurality of substrates which are alternately arranged with said stacked cells so that each one of said plurality of switchable mirror elements is arranged between two substrates of said plurality of substrates and separated from switchable mirror elements of all other stacked cells of said plurality of stacked cells;
(c) providing pixilated electrodes for said each one of said plurality of switchable mirror elements which are electrically insulated from pixilated electrodes of said all other mirror elements of said plurality of switchable mirror elements; and
(d) exposing the liquid crystal in the assembly resulting from performance of steps (a) through (c) to holography at predetermined angles from at least two incident beams to form holographic gratings having a predetermined pattern. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification