Optical switch with flexure pivot
AssigneeOptical Coating Laboratory, Inc.
InventorRichard Ian Seddon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical switch for use in optical telecommunication applications is configured to tolerate vibration and shock loading, preserving optical alignment at a plurality of switching positions and during the switching operation, and to effectively perform precise and accurate switching operations in a variety of environmental conditions. Switching operations are performed when an actuator that responds to a switching stimulus acts upon a flexure pivot device that in turn accurately and reproducibly displaces an optical element that operates upon a light signal.
Claims16
An optical switch for use in an optical communication system, the optical switch comprising:
- a structure framework;
- a flexure pivot assembly, the flexure pivot assembly having a first mounting portion coupled to the structure framework, a flexure coupled to the first mounting portion and to a second mounting portion, the second mounting portion being coupled to
- an armature configured to rotate about a rotational axis of the flexure pivot assembly;
- an optical device mounted on the armature;
- and
- an actuator capable of operating on the armature to switch the optical device from a first switch position to at least a second switch position by rotation of the armature about the rotational axis of the flexure pivot assembly, wherein the optical device remains essentially within a plane normal to the rotational axis during a switch operation.
An optical switch for use in an optical communication system, the optical switch comprising:
- a structure framework having a bench;
- an optical waveguide mechanically coupled to the bench
- a flexure pivot assembly, the flexure pivot assembly having a first mounting portion coupled to the structure framework, at least a first flexure and a second flexure, the first flexure being crossed to the second flexure, the first flexure and the second flexure being coupled to the first mounting portion and to a second mounting portion, the second mounting portion being coupled to
- an armature configured to rotate about a rotational axis of the flexure pivot assembly, the armature including a permanent magnet, a first pole piece and a second pole piece, the first pole piece being magnetically coupled to a first pole of the permanent magnet and the second pole piece being magnetically coupled to a second pole of the permanent magnet;
- an optical device mounted on the armature;
- and
- an solenoid actuator configured to magnetically couple to the first pole piece and to the second pole piece to switch the optical device from a first switch position to a second switch position by rotation of the armature about the rotational axis of the flexure pivot assembly, wherein the optical device remains essentially within a plane normal to the rotational axis during a switch operation.
An optical switch comprising:
- means for providing an optical input signal to an optical device mounted on an armature;
- means for mechanically coupling the armature to a frame, the means for mechanically coupling including a flexure disposed between the frame and the armature and configured to allow the armature to rotate about a rotational axis;
- and
- means for selectively actuating movement of the armature about the rotational axis from a first switch position to a second switch position, the optical device remaining essentially within a plane normal to the rotational axis between a first switch position and a second switch position.
A method for switching an optical signal, the method comprising:
- providing an optical signal to an optical device mounted on an armature in a first switch position;
- routing the optical signal to a first output port;
- selectively actuating the armature to cause the armature to rotate about a rotational axis of a flexure pivot to a second switch position;
- and
- routing the optical signal to a second output port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.