Switching device, particularly for optical switching

US6798935B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Colibrys SA · CH

Inventors

• Claude Bourgeois · Bôle, CH
• Patrick Debergh · Virton, BE
• Stephan Gonseth · Morges, CH
• Grégoire Perregaux · Saint-Blaise, CH
• Felix Rudolf · Yverdon-les-Bains, CH
• Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel · Tessenderlo, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 2002
• Grant date: Sep 28, 2004
• Expiry date: Aug 9, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3584
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This switching device comprises at least one cell made up of a moving structure consisting in a flexible cantilever beam (14) and an integral screen (16) attached to said beam, being able to move between two end positions (A, B) and of actuating electrodes (20) for subjecting said structure to forces of attraction to control its movements. The electrodes (20) are located on each side of the beam (14) in such a way as to follow its exact shape when it is in one of its two end positions. A regular movement of the moving structure and a reliable operating of the switching device are thus obtained This invention may be used in optical switching applications.