Optical deflection switch

Details Optical deflection switch Optical deflection switch

1997-12-01

1999-09-28

Bovernick, Rodney

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

359209, 359211, 385 16, G01N 2100

Patent

active

059597569

ABSTRACT:
A 1.times.n optical deflection switch has an array of k transmissive light deflectors to switch an incident light beam into one of n=2.sup.k directions. The switch can steer the light through the deflectors into one of a plurality of beam directions, by selectively individually inserting them into the light path. One embodiment uses four glass rectangular blocks as light deflectors having parallel upper and lower surfaces oriented at a predetermined oblique angle to the incident light beam. The thicknesses of the blocks follow an increasing order in proportion to successive powers of 2, i.e. t, 2t, 4t and 8t, giving a total of 16 switching positions. Another embodiment uses two arrays of 4-block switches, and selectively activates blocks from either array to provide a 1.times.32 switch. Yet, another embodiment uses four stepped deflectors each having two selectable sections of dissimilar thicknesses to give a total of 15 switching positions.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4737003 (1988-04-01), Matsumura et al.
patent: 5037169 (1991-08-01), Chun
patent: 5361315 (1994-11-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5589933 (1996-12-01), Osgood et al.

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