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US 6,644,820 B2Granted
Temperature stabilized mirror for switching optical signals
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorJohn W. Orcutt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature stabilized optical mirror is disclosed. A rotatable mirror for switching optical light signals between optical fibers is mounted on a support structure. One or more PTC (Positional Temperature Coefficient) resistors are mounted to the support structure to provide heat to the combination support structure and mirror so as to maintain the mirror and support structure above a lower limit of a selected temperature range. The PTC resistor is selected to have a switching temperature substantially equal to the lower limit of the select temperature range.
Claims9
A temperature stabilized optical mirror comprising:
- a support board;
- an optical mirror having a maximum allowable operating temperature and mounted to said support board;
- at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor mounted to said support board for heating said mirror, said PTC resistor having a switching temperature at a selected temperature representing a lower limit of a selected operating range;
- and
- a power source connected across said at least one PTC resistor to cause said PTC resistor to heat and maintain said support board and said optical mirror within a temperature range extending between said maximum allowable operating temperature and a lower limit temperature substantially the same as said switching temperature of said PTC resistor wherein said mirror mounted to said support board comprises mounting a mirror rotatable about two axes.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.