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US 6,585,382 B1Granted
Optical systems using switched mirrors
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorThomas W. Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical system having at least one switched mirror for switching and routing at least one incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The switched mirrors are controlled by a voltage source and based upon the desired controllability of the switched mirrors and wide range of switching and or routing of an optical signal can be effected. In addition by the selective placement of components with the optical system polarization effects can be controlled with the optical system to more effectively provide for subsequent signal transmission.
Claims16
An optical system for producing an attenuated or directed signal, comprising:
- means for receiving at least one incident signal of electromagnetic radiation;
- attenuating/directing means for accepting said at least one incident signal of electromagnetic radiation from said receiving means and for providing at least one attenuated or directed output signal of electromagnetic radiation, said attenuating/directing means including a single stage comprising a switchable mirror;
- means operably associated with said single stage for controlling said switchable mirror in such a manner as to attenuate said at least one incident signal as it strikes said switchable mirror;
- said controlling means further preselectively controlling the amount of said attenuation of said at least one incident signal;
- said switchable mirror directing said at least one incident signal to at least one of two angular directions;
- means operably associated with said single stage for controlling the amount of said at least one incident signal directed to said at least one of said two angular directions;
- and
- means for outputting said at least one incident signal after it propagates into and out of/from said switchable mirror in free space.
5 more elements
An optical system for producing an attenuated or directed signal, comprising:
- directing means for receiving at least one incident signal of electromagnetic radiation and for providing at least one attenuated output signal of electromagnetic radiation, said directing means including a single stage comprising a switchable mirror;
- means operably associated with said single stage for controlling said switchable mirror in such a manner as to attenuate said at least one incident signal as it strikes said switchable mirror;
- said controlling means further preselectively controlling the amount of said attenuation of said at least one incident signal;
- means located on one side of said single stage for separating said at least one incident signal of electromagnetic radiation into two electromagnetic radiation signals, each signal containing orthogonal polarization components;
- means operably associated with said single stage for rotating one of said signals with respect to the polarization of the other of said signals prior to striking said switchable mirror;
- means located on another side of said single stage for rotating one of said signals with respect to the polarization of the other of said signals after striking said switchable mirror;
- means operably associated with said single stage for combining said separated signals of electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- said at least one incident signal propagates into and out of/from said switchable mirror in free space to provide attenuation or direction of said at least one input signal insensitive to polarization.
6 more elements
An optical system for producing an attenuated signal, comprising:
- directing means for receiving at least two incident signals of electromagnetic radiation and for providing at least two attenuated output signals of electromagnetic radiation, said directing means including a single stage comprising a switchable mirror;
- said switchable mirror comprising a pixelated reflective optical component;
- means operably associated with said single stage for controlling said pixilated switchable mirror in such a manner as to attenuate said at least two incident signals as it strikes said switchable mirror;
- said controlling means further preselectively controlling the amount of said attenuation of said at least two incident signals;
- and
- said at least two incident signals propagating into and out of/from said pixilated switchable mirror in free space.
3 more elements
An optical system for producing an attenuated or directed signal, comprising:
- directing means for receiving at least two incident signals of electromagnetic radiation and for providing at least two attenuated output signals of electromagnetic radiation, said directing means including a single stage comprising a switchable mirror;
- said switchable mirror comprising a pixelated reflective optical component;
- means operably associated with said single stage for controlling said pixilated switchable mirror in such a manner as to attenuate said at least two incident signals as it strikes said switchable mirror;
- said controlling means further preselectively controlling the amount of said attenuation of said at least two incident signals;
- means located on one side of said single stage for separating each of said at least two incident signals of electromagnetic radiation into two electromagnetic radiation signals, each of the two electromagnetic radiation signals containing orthogonal polarization components;
- means operably associated with said single stage for rotating one of the two electromagnetic radiation signals containing orthogonal polarization components with respect to the polarization of the other prior to striking said pixelated switchable mirror;
- means located on another side of said single stage for rotating one of the two electromagnetic radiation signals containing orthogonal polarization components with respect to the polarization of the other after striking said pixelated switchable mirror;
- means operably associated with said single stage for combining said separated signals of electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- said at least two incident signals propagates into and out of/from said switchable mirror in free space to provide attenuation or direction of said at least two input signals insensitive to polarization;
- and
- said at least two incident signals propagating into and out of/from said pixilated switchable mirror in free space.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.