Patent · US Expired

Optical switch and beam direction module

US7006721B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
3References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 2003
Grant dateFeb 28, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/357
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a three-dimensional multi-channel optical switch using biaxially movable mirrors, a mirror packing density is improved to support an increased number of channels. The three-dimensional optical switch comprises a fiber collimator array, and a first mirror array and a second mirror array disposed in close proximity to a beam emission surface of the fiber collimator array. The first mirror array has arranged thereon a plurality of first mirrors each having a single rotation axis and a plurality of first windows. The second mirror array has arranged thereon a plurality of second mirrors each having a single rotation axis orthogonal to the first rotation axis and a plurality of second windows. A beam emitted from a fiber collimator passes through the first window, reflects on a fixed mirror and a movable mirror in order, passes through the second window, and exits to the outside.

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