US 6,295,154 B1 · Optical switching apparatus

Abstract

An optical matrix switch station (1) is shown mounting a plurality of optical switch units (15, 17), each of which includes a mirror (29), moveable in two axes, for purpose of switching optical beams from one optical fiber to another. A mirror assembly (41) includes a single body of silicon comprising a frame portion (43), gimbals (45), mirror portion (47), and related hinges (55). Magnets (53, 54) and air coils (89) are utilized to position the central mirror surface (29) to a selected orientation. The moveable mirror and associated magnets along with control LED's (71) are hermetically packaged in a header (81) and mounted with the air coils on mounting bracket (85) to form a micromirror assembly package (99) mounted in each optical switch unit.

Claims38

Dependent claims

Optical switching apparatus comprising,

a header having a bottom wall and upwardly extending side walls forming a recess, a platform formed along the side walls spaced above the bottom wall,
a micromirror formed from a single piece of material having an outer frame portion lying in a plane and supported on the platform, an intermediate rotational gimbals portion hinged to the frame portion and movable relative to the frame portion about a first axis and an inner rotational mirror portion having a reflective, upper face surface formed with a radius of curvature of at least 2 meters hinged to the gimbals portion for movement of the mirror portion relative to the gimbals portion about a second axis, at least one magnet attached to one of the rotational portions, and
at least one electromagnetic coil assembly disposed in close proximity to the mirror assembly for applying selected forces to the at least one magnet for causing desired movement of the gimbals portion and the mirror portion along the two axes to reflect an optical beam directed to the mirror portion in a selected direction.

Optical switching apparatus comprising:

a header having a bottom wall and upwardly extending side walls forming a recess, a platform formed along the side walls spaced above the bottom wall;
a micromirror formed from a single piece of material having an outer frame portion living in a plane and supported on the platform, an intermediate rotational gimbals portion hinged to the frame portion and moveable relative to the frame portion about a first axis and an inner rotational mirror portion having a reflective upper face surface hinged to the gimbals portion for movement of the mirror portion relative to the gimbals portion about a second axis, at least one magnet attached to one of the rotational portions;
at least one electromagnetic coil assembly disposed in close proximity to the mirror assembly for applying selected forces to the at least one magnet for causing desired movement of the gimbals portion and the mirror portion along the two axes to reflect an optical beam directed to the mirror portion in a selected direction, the at least one electromagnetic coil assembly disposed in engagement with the bottom wall of the header, a respective coil assembly being in alignment with each spaced apart magnet location, in which each coil assembly comprises a bobbin having a spool on which a coil is wound and an aluminum plate portion between the respective coil and the bottom wall of the header, the bobbins having a massive heat sink portion of heat conductive material relative to the respective coils on a side of the coils remote from the plate portion.

Optical switching apparatus comprising:

a header having a bottom wall and upwardly extending side walls forming a recess, a platform formed along the side walls spaced above the bottom wall;
a micromirror formed from a single piece of material having an outer frame portion lying in a plane and supported on the platform, an intermediate rotational gimbals portion hinged to the frame portion and moveable relative to the frame portion about a first axis and an inner rotational mirror portion having a reflective upper face surface hinged to the gimbals portion for movement of the mirror portion relative to the gimbals portion about a second axis, at least one magnet attached to one of the rotational portions;
at least one electromagnetic coil assembly disposed in close proximity to the mirror assembly for applying selected forces to the at least one magnet for causing desired movement of the gimbals portion and the mirror portion along the two axes to reflect an optical beam directed to the mirror portion in a selected direction, the at least one electromagnetic coil assembly disposed in engagement with the bottom wall of the header, a respective coil assembly being in alignment with each spaced apart magnet location;
a mounting bracket formed of heat conductive material, the header mounted on the bracket, the bracket being formed with a first portion having a pair of spaced apart surfaces lying in respective planes which intersect each other;
a package having a bottom wall, the bottom wall having an upwardly extending mounting pad formed with a second portion having a pair of complimentary, spaced apart surfaces, one of the first and second portions forming a concave cradle and the other of the first and second portions forming a convex protrusion received in the cradle, the first and second portions being fixed to one another.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Optical switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38