Optical switch having a retro-reflector associated therewith and a method of use thereof
AssigneeAgere Systems Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Frye, Michael Hahn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an optical switch, a method of use thereof, and an optical communications system including the same. The optical switch may include a first substrate having an input mirror located thereon and a second substrate having an output mirror located thereon, wherein the second substrate is substantially parallel with the first substrate. In an advantageous embodiment, the optical switch may further include a retro-reflector located adjacent the first and second substrates and configured to redirect radiation from the input mirror to the output mirror.
Claims20
An optical switch, comprising:
- a first substrate having an input mirror located thereon;
- a second substrate substantially parallel with the first substrate and having an output mirror located thereon;
- and
- a retro-reflector located adjacent the first and second substrates and configured to redirect radiation from the input mirror to the output mirror.
A method of operating an optical switch, comprising:
- projecting radiation from an output waveguide along a first substrate having an input mirror located thereon;
- and
- actuating the input mirror to cause the radiation to be redirected toward a retro-reflector, wherein the retro-reflector redirects the radiation toward an input waveguide.
An optical communications system, comprising:
- an optical switch, comprising;
- a first substrate having an input mirror located thereon;
- a second substrate substantially parallel with the first substrate and having an output mirror located thereon;
- and
- a retro-reflector located adjacent the first and second substrates and configured to redirect radiation from the input mirror to the output mirror;
- and
- a plurality of input and output waveguides optically coupled to the optical switch and configured to transmit radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.