Non-contacting micromechanical optical switch

Details Non-contacting micromechanical optical switch Non-contacting micromechanical optical switch

1997-06-09

1998-09-15

Ben, Loha

Optical: systems and elements

Optical modulator

Light wave temporal modulation

359292, 359295, 359245, 359318, 310328, 310366, G02B 2600

Patent

active

058087800

ABSTRACT:
A micromechanical optical switch (30). A reflective surface with two angled reflective surfaces (32,34) positioned opposite a micromechanical device (12). The micromechanical device is positioned such that light input along a path (36) to a first (32) of the two angled reflective surfaces is reflected to the micromechanical device. The micromechanical device then reflects the light to the second (34) of the angled surfaces to be output along another path (38a, 38b). The path (38a, 38b) that the second angled surface (34) outputs the light along is selected depending upon the position of the micromechanical device's reflective member (14). The reflective member (14) deflects from at least one hinge (22) to one of several positions. The number of positions available to the reflective member (14) depends upon the voltage applied to the electrodes (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d). The reflective member (14) makes no contact with any other surfaces, and thereby always returns to a know position upon loss of power.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4675500 (1987-06-01), Kunz et al.
patent: 4954789 (1990-09-01), Sampsell
patent: 5475525 (1995-12-01), Tournois et al.
patent: 5508841 (1996-04-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5535047 (1996-07-01), Hornbeck

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