Texas Instruments Corporation

James A Sisco

John Walter Orcutt

Herzel Laor

Andrew Steven Dewa

David I Forehand

Tsen-Hwang Lin

Philip A Congdon

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

Optical switching apparatus

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

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Esmond, RI, United States of America

James A Sisco