Optical switch arrangement and method
US6763162B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3598
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
1. A rotatable mirror optical switch arrangement (100) comprising: an input array of light sources (160); an output array of light receivers (180); a first rotatable platter (110) of mirror elements arranged between the input array and the output array whereby light (140, 150) from a desired one of the input array of light sources is reflected via the rotatable platter to a desired one of the output array of light receivers dependent on rotation of the first rotatable platter. The mirror elements may be comprised in a free-form surface. The size of a single mirror may be smaller than 1 mm2. A passive optical switch matrix (275) may be positioned between the input and output arrays to increase switching permutations. The mirror elements may be arranged in segments (100), which may be arranged in sectors and rings.This provides the following advantages: lower amount of moveable parts compared with the prior art for same number of optical I/Os; high reliability due to low number of moving parts; mirrors do not move individually (no alignment/recalibration of single mirrors necessary); non-blocking switch; precision built into design.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.