Optical switch using Risley prisms
US6549700B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3584
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switch using Risley prisms and rotary microactuators to independently rotate the wedge prisms of each Risley prism pair is disclosed. The optical switch comprises an array of input Risley prism pairs that selectively redirect light beams from a plurality of input ports to an array of output Risley prism pairs that similarly direct the light beams to a plurality of output ports. Each wedge prism of each Risley prism pair can be independently rotated by a variable-reluctance stepping rotary microactuator that is fabricated by a multi-layer LIGA process. Each wedge prism can be formed integral to the annular rotor of the rotary microactuator by a DXRL process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.