Optical switch having switch mirror arrays controlled by scanning beams
US6643425B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/904
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switch having switch mirror arrays controlled by scanning beams that reduce the amount of electrical connections required and reduce the complexity for constructing large optical switches. Movement of the switch mirror arrays is controlled by one or more scanning beams. The optical switch includes one or more arrays of optical switch inputs and outputs and one or more arrays of movable mirrors to direct light beams from the optical switch inputs to the optical switch outputs. The optical switch also includes one or more control elements to control the movable mirrors based on scanning beams directed to the one or more control elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.