Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Switch
Patent
1993-07-12
1994-09-06
Gonzalez, Frank
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Switch
385 14, 385 17, 385 18, 385 20, 359234, 359855, 359865, G02B 626
Patent
active
053455215
ABSTRACT:
An optical switching device with switch elements (224) similar to digital micromirror devices (DMD). The switching element (224) resides in a trench (216) between two elevated areas on the substrate (214a, 214b). Sending and receiving fibers (218a, 218b) face each other across the trench (216) with the switch element (224) between them. When the switch is ON, light travels through lenses (220a, 220b) in the trench (216) from one fiber (218b) to the other (218a). When the switch is flipped OFF, the element (224) is activated and blocks the light from the sending fiber (218b) by reflecting or absorbing the light from the sending fiber (218b). The switch is activated and possibly deactivated by addressing electrodes (226a, 226b) under the element (224), which deflects through an air gap towards the activated electrode (226b). For better deflection angles the posts can be arranged closer to one end of the element than the other. An alternate hinge architecture is also provided.
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Boysel R. Mark
McDonald T. Gus
Donaldson Richard L.
Gonzalez Frank
Kesterson James C.
Reed Julie L.
Texas Instrument Incorporated
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