Optical switch with internal monitoring
US6792177B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/359
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides an optical switch comprising a housing, an input optical fiber, a mirror substrate, an input pivoting mirror, an output optical fiber, a first optical splitter, and a first optical detector. The input optical fiber propagates a light beam and is secured to the housing. The mirror substrate is secured to the housing. The input pivoting mirror is located in a path of the light beam after leaving the input optical fiber. The input pivoting mirror is pivotally secured to the mirror substrate. Pivoting of the mirror relative to the mirror substrate alters an angle with which the light beam is reflected therefrom. The output optical fiber is secured to the housing and has an end through which the light beam enters after being reflected by the input pivoting mirror. The first optical splitter is located in a path of the light beam after leaving the input optical fiber. The first optical splitter splits the light beam into a first propagated portion and a first monitoring portion. The first propagated portion is propagated through the output optical fiber and the first monitoring portion is detected by the first optical detector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.