M input port by N output port optical switching system
US5903687A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 11, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0026
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An M.times.N optical switching system has a plurality of M optical input ports, each of which is directs a respectively associated optical input beam along one of M spaced apart coplanar parallel input optical paths intersecting an optical coupling path. N optical output ports are installed of the input ports at spaced apart locations of the optical coupling path. Each optical output ports receives a respective optical signal along one of N spaced apart coplanar output optical paths that intersect the optical coupling path apart. M+N mirrors are alignable with a normal bisecting a common angle at a respective intersection of the M input optical paths and the N output optical paths with the optical coupling path. A plurality of actuators controllably move selected mirrors into and out of the optical coupling path, so as to cause an optical signal incident at a selected one of the M optical input ports to be coupled to a selected one of the N optical output ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.