Micro electro mechanical system optical switching
| DWPI Title: Optical switch used in fiber optic communications has mirror that can be tuned to positions other than position parallel to plane and position normal to plane, including positions beyond position normal to plane of optical signal |
| Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatus, system, and method embodiments that provide micro electro mechanical system optical switching and methods of manufacturing switches. For example, one optical switch embodiment includes at least one micro electro mechanical system type pivot mirror structure disposed along a path of an optical signal, the structure having a mirror and an actuator, and the mirror having a pivot axis along a first edge and having a second edge rotatable with respect to the pivot axis, the mirror being capable of and arranged to be actuated to pivot between a position parallel to a plane of an optical signal and a position substantially normal to the plane of the optical signal. |
| Use: Optical switch for optical switching system (claimed) used in fiber optic communications, particularly to micro-electro-machined system (MEMS) optical switching. |
| Advantage: Performance and other characteristics of the optical signal and system are monitored and checked by monitoring the same path over time. Wear and tear on the device is reduced or eliminated since the amount of handling and exposure to the release process by other components is reduced. |
| Novelty: The switch has a micro electro mechanical system type pivot mirror structure disposed along a path of an optical signal, and has a mirror (342) that includes a pivot axis along a first and a second edge rotatable with respect to the pivot axis via an actuator. The mirror is rotatable between a position parallel to a plane of an optical signal and a position normal to the plane of optical signal. The mirror can be tuned to positions other than the position parallel to the plane and the position normal to the plane, including positions beyond the position normal to the plane of optical signal. |
| Filed: 11/10/2008 |
| Application Number: US2008291428A |
| Tech ID: SD 10889.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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