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:
Oct. 14, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2001
Claude E. Tew, Dallas, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A family of optical switches. Each switch ( ) includes a holder block ( ) to hold optical fibers ( ) and ferrules ( ) in alignment with a micromirror array ( ). The holder block has a reflective bottom surface ( ). The bottom surface ( ) functions as a retro-reflector when the optical switch ( ) is assembled. The micromirror array ( ) has a substrate on which rows of micromirrors have been fabricated. The ferrules ( ) are held at an angle relative to the micromirror array ( ). This angle allows the light emitted from the input fiber ( ) to traverse the array of micromirrors ( ) to the output fiber ( ). Light from the input fiber ( ) is reflected between a series of mirrors ( ) and the retro-reflective surface ( ) until reaching the output fiber ( ). The rotation of the mirrors determines the path of light across the mirror array ( ) and which output fiber ( ) the light reaches.