The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 25, 2001
Filed:
May. 12, 1999
Herzel Laor, Boulder, CO (US);
Philip A. Congdon, Richardson, TX (US);
Andrew S. Dewa, Plano, TX (US);
David I. Forehand, Wylie, TX (US);
Tsen-Hwang Lin, Dallas, TX (US);
John W. Orcutt, Richardson, TX (US);
James A. Sisco, Esmond, RI (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
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.