Optical switch module
US7734127B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3584
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an all optical cross connect switch utilizing two-axis MEMS mirrors for cross connecting optical fibers in a first set of optical fibers to optical fibers in a second set of optical fibers. The optical fibers in the first and second sets of optical fibers are precisely positioned in a first fiber-microlens positioning array to define a first set of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beam paths, with each collimated cross-connect communication beam path connecting an optical fiber in the first set of optical fibers with a MEMS mirror in a first MEMS mirror array. Alignment beams are added to and aligned co-axially with each of the first and second sets of parallel collimated cross-connect communication beams. Two beam direction sensor units are positioned to detect each alignment beam in the first and second sets of alignment beams transmitted through the dichroic mirror and a MEMS control system controls the positions of the MEMS mirrors to connect optical fibers in the first set of optical fibers to any of the optical fibers in the second set of optical fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.