Protection for MEMS cross-bar switch
US6292281A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3546
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A protection system for a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) cross-bar switch is described. Optical signals that are cross-connected by a N.times.N optical matrix switch are routed through alternative protection paths using protection switch elements. The protection switch elements are incorporated as part of the silicon wafer based fabricated structure that forms the N.times.N optical matrix. The protection switch elements enable the N.times.N optical matrix switch to recover from one or more failures in switch elements of the N.times.N optical matrix using alternative protection paths that have the same path length as the original optical path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.