Method and apparatus for internal monitoring and control of reflectors in an optical switch
US6788842B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3556
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments include method and apparatus for detecting the alignment of movable reflectors in an optical switch. A diagnostic device embodiment includes a two-dimensional photoimager positioned to receive light from movable mirrors in the switch. Each movable mirror reflects light to different two-dimensional positions on the photoimager based on the position of each movable mirror, thereby creating a two-dimensional image of the reflector array. A controller receives information from the photoimager and adjusts the positions of the movable mirrors according to light received at the photoimager. A related diagnostic device includes an illumination source for directing monitor light beams onto the movable mirrors where the monitor beams are reflected onto the photoimager. This configuration provides two-dimensional information concerning the current position of the movable mirrors which is used to monitor and adjust the positions of the movable mirrors of the switch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.