Optical routers
AssigneeZarlink Semiconductor Inc.
InventorJohn Nigel Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical router comprises a substantially planar substrate, a stator fixed to and projecting from an upper surface of the substrate, and a rotor surrounding the stator so as to be rotatable about the stator. At least one optical guiding component is formed in or on the rotor. A substantially planar layer is provided on the substrate surrounding the rotor and has a plurality of optical waveguides formed therein, the waveguides opening at at least one end onto a space surrounding the rotor. The stator rotor, and planar layer are formed on the substrate by a series of deposition and etching steps such that the rotor may be rotated about the stator so as to align the optical guiding component with one or more of the waveguide openings.
Claims11
An optical router comprising:
- a substantially planar substrate having an upper surface;
- a stator fixed to and projecting from said upper surface of said substrate;
- a rotor surrounding said stator so as to be rotatable about said stator;
- at least one optical guiding component carried by said rotor;
- and
- a substantially planar layer on said substrate surrounding,
- said rotor and having a plurality of optical waveguides formed therein, said waveguides having openings opening at at least one end onto a space surrounding said rotor, said stator, said rotor, and said planar layer having been formed on said substrate by a series of deposition and etching steps,
- wherein said rotor is rotatable about said stator so as to align said optical guiding component with at least one of said waveguide openings.
An optical router comprising:
- a substantially planar substrate having an upper surface;
- a stator fixed to and projecting from said upper surface of said substrate;
- a rotor having a periphery and surrounding said stator so as to be rotatable about said stator;
- at least one optical waveguide extending across said rotor in a substantially transverse plane and having ends opening onto said periphery of said rotor;
- and
- a substantially planar layer on said substrate surrounding said rotor and having a plurality of optical waveguides formed therein, said waveguides having openings opening at at least one end onto a space surrounding said rotor,
- said stator, said rotor, and said planar layer having been formed on said substrate by a series of deposition and etching steps,
- wherein said ends of said waveguide on said rotor are alignable with said openings of said waveguides on said planar layer by rotation of said rotor about said stator.
A method of fabricating an optical router, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a stator on a planar substrate;
- depositing a dielectric layer on said substrate surrounding said stator;
- etching said dielectric layer to form a rotor surrounding said stator and a planar layer surrounding said rotor, wherein said rotor is rotatable relative to said stator and said planar layer;
- and
- forming a plurality of optical waveguides carried by said planar layer, each of said waveguides opening into a space surrounding said rotor, and at least one optical guiding component carried by said rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.