System and method for reflecting and deflecting light utilizing spherical shaped devices
AssigneeBall Semiconductor, Inc.
InventorsAkira Ishikawa, Takashi Kanatake, Wenhui Mei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of utilizing spherical and hemispherical shaped devices to function as an optical switch is disclosed. The optical switch can contain mirrors that turn on and off, or are fixed in place with a movable spherical device. Additionally, the optical switches can contain grating patterns to deflect an optical signal from its original path. The grating patterns can vary in design and pattern to deflect the optical signal in almost any direction, or to not let the optical signal continue. The optical switch can also include photo sensors along the exterior of the sphere or along the reflection device. The optical switch can also include an integrated circuits.
Claims25
An optical switch utilizing a spherical shaped device, the switch comprising:
- an optical transmission path having an optical transmission medium, an input-side end and a first and a second output-side end;
- a radiation source associated with said input-side end for emitting a primary optical signal being coupled into said transmission path;
- a reflection device within the spherical device for receiving the primary optical signal and converting the primary optical signal into a secondary, modulated optical signal being reflected and coupled back into the second output-side end when the reflection device is on and wherein the primary optical signal is coupled into the first output-side end when the reflection device is off;
- a reflection device is included in an inner sphere within the spherical device and wherein the reflection device moves in order for the primary signal to reflected and coupled back into the second output-side end.
An optical switch utilizing a spherical shaped device, the switch comprising:
- an optical transmission path having an optical transmission medium, an input-side end and a first and a second output-side end;
- a radiation source associated with said input-side end for emitting a primary optical signal being coupled into said transmission path;
- a first grating pattern on the spherical device for receiving the primary optical signal and converting the primary optical signal into a secondary, modulated optical signal being coupled back into the second output-side end when the grating pattern is on and wherein the primary optical signal is coupled into the first output-side end when the grating pattern is off.
An optical switch utilizing a spherical shaped device, the switch comprising:
- an optical transmission path having an optical transmission medium, an input-side end and a first and a second output-side end;
- a radiation source associated with said input-side end for emitting a primary optical signal being coupled into said transmission path;
- a reflection device within the spherical device for receiving the primary optical signal and converting the primary optical signal into a secondary, modulated optical signal being reflected and coupled back into the second output-side end when the reflection device is on and wherein the primary optical signal is coupled into the first output-side end when the reflection device is off;
- further including a plurality of photo sensors on the sphere.
An optical switch utilizing a spherical shaped device, the switch comprising:
- an optical transmission path having an optical transmission medium, an input-side end and a first and a second output-side end;
- a radiation source associated with said input-side end for emitting a primary optical signal being coupled into said transmission path;
- a reflection device within the spherical device for receiving the primary optical signal and converting the primary optical signal into a secondary, modulated optical signal being reflected and coupled back into the second output-side end when the reflection device is on and wherein the primary optical signal is coupled into the first output-side end when the reflection device is off;
- further including an integrated circuit on the sphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.