Single chip optical cross connect
US6640023B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/003
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a free space optical cross connect for switching optical signals between a plurality of optical signal ports to/from the switch interface. In one embodiment, a single chip 2N OXC (10) for switching optical signals (12) between any one of N input optical fibers (14) and any one of N output optical fibers (16) within a compact free space switch interface (18) includes N reflective microstructures (20) built/assembled on a substrate (30) and N positioning systems (40) associated with the reflective microstructures (20) that are also built/assembled on the substrate (30). The positioning systems (40) are operable to both elevate their associated reflective microstructures (20) from the surface of the substrate (30) and to tilt their associated reflective microstructures (20) with at least two degrees of freedom with respect to the surface of the substrate (30) in order to reflect optical signal (12) through the switch interface (18) from any one of the input optical fibers (14) to any one of the output optical fibers (16). The single chip 2N OXC (10) may also include a lid (62) overlying and spaced away from the substrate (30) to provide a hermetically se…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.