Temperature stabilized mirror for switching optical signals
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorJohn W. Orcutt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature stabilized optical mirror is disclosed. A rotatable mirror for switching optical light signals between optical fibers is mounted on a support structure. One or more PTC (Positional Temperature Coefficient) resistors are mounted to the support structure to provide heat to the combination support structure and mirror so as to maintain the mirror and support structure above a lower limit of a selected temperature range. The PTC resistor is selected to have a switching temperature substantially equal to the lower limit of the select temperature range.
Claims20
A method for thermal stabilization of an optical mirror comprising the steps of:
- providing an optical mirror with a known maximum allowable operating temperature, said mirror mounted to a support member;
- selecting a temperature range for operating said mirror, said selected temperature range selected to be between the maximum allowable operating temperature of said mirror and a lower limit temperature which is a selected number of degrees below said maximum allowable operating temperature;
- mounting a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor on said support member, said PTC resistor having a switching temperature at said lower limit temperature;
- connecting electrical power across said PTC resistor such that the temperature of said PTC resistor will increase to its switching temperature and will also maintain said mirror and said mirror support member at a temperature substantially the same as said switching temperature of said PTC resistor;
- and
- operating said mirror on said support member within said selected temperature range.
A temperature stabilized optical mirror comprising:
- a support board;
- an optical mirror having a maximum allowable operating temperature and mounted to said support board;
- at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor mounted to said support board for heating said mirror, said PTC resistor having a switching temperature at a selected temperature representing a lower limit of a selected operating range;
- and
- a power source connected across said at least one PTC resistor to cause said PTC resistor to heat and maintain said support board and said optical mirror within a temperature range extending between said maximum allowable operating temperature and a lower limit temperature substantially the same as said switching temperature of said PTC resistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.