System and method for actively aligning mirrors in an optical switch
US6539142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4225
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a 3D MEMS optical switch titling mirrors are actively aligned to minimize losses in optical power. In one embodiment the optical signals in the output fibers are tapped and detected and the sensed outputs are used by a control circuit with a feedback loop that adjusts the alignment signals sent to the MEMS actuators. In a second embodiment, an emitter which is either a single LED or laser diode is optically coupled to the output fibers for injecting alignment beams back into the fibers. The alignment beams have a frequency bandwidth outside that of the information beams. The alignment beams are detected at the input fibers via directional optical couplers and the sensed outputs are used by a control circuit with a feedback loop to adjust the alignment signals. The alignment signals are dithered and their phase and amplitude shifts are used to generate the appropriate feedback signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.