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US 7,095,915 B2Granted
Beam steering arrangements and optical switches
AssigneePolatis Limited
InventorAndrew Nicholas Dames
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To steer a beam in an optical switch, a collimator joined to an optical fiber along a Z-axis is mounted in a gimbal for rocking movement about X and Y axes. A piezoelectric actuator extends along the Z-axis and is symmetric about the fiber. An angular position sensor on the collimator provides feedback for use in steering the beam.
Claims11
A beam steering arrangement comprising a support structure, a moveable collimator, and an optical fiber extending generally along the Z-axis having two opposite ends, one end of which is joined to said collimator and the opposite end of which is located remotely from said one end;
- means constraining said collimator relative to said support structure for rocking movement only about at least one axis orthogonal to the Z-axis;
- and actuating means which is adapted to flex when actuated to drive said rocking movement of said collimator, wherein said actuating means incorporates an arm which extends substantially along the Z-axis and displaces in at least one axis orthogonal to the Z-axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.