Patent · US Expired

Optical switching system, optical switch, and electro-optical mechanical device

US6807334B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
12References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 2002
Grant dateOct 19, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3556
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical switching system includes a substrate, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror, a MEMS output mirror, and an opposing mirror. The substrate is configured to carry an input light source and an output light source spaced from the input light source. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) input mirror is carried by the substrate. The MEMS output mirror is carried by the substrate and is spaced from the MEMS input mirror. The opposing mirror is disposed opposite the substrate and is configured to communicate optically with an input light source and an output light source carried by the substrate. The input mirror optically couples an input beam from the input light source via the opposing mirror to a location on the opposing mirror with the output mirror via the opposing mirror. The output mirror optically couples the location on the opposing mirror with the output light source via the opposing mirror. In one case, the input light source and the output light source each comprise an optical fiber. An optical switch and an electromechanical device are also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.