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:
Dec. 16, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Richard H. Laughlin, Collinsville, TX (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/35 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/35 ;
Abstract
Novel architectures of optical switches and N×N cross bar optical switches are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical switch includes: (1) a primary refracting body having a total internal reflecting surface and capable of transmitting optical energy therethrough, (2) a frustrating refracting body having a frustrating surface located proximate the total internal reflecting surface and (3) an actuator, coupled to the primary refracting body and the frustrating refracting body, that drives at least a center portion of the frustrating refracting body thereby to frustrate a reflection of the total internal reflecting surface.