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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2001
Charles Corbalis, Saratoga, CA (US);
John E. Bowers, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Shifu Yuan, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
David Welsh, Goleta, CA (US);
Roger J. Helkey, Montecito, CA (US);
Calient Networks, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical switch embodiment includes a switching array of arranged to accomplish switching of input light beams to any of a plurality of output channels and an array of beam monitoring elements for indirectly measuring and providing information used for adjusting output beams. The beam monitoring element further includes means for measuring the angular misalignment and the positional misalignment of a monitor beam and adjusting the reflectors based on monitor beam information such that optical beams are output from the switch having the desired optical characteristics, such as optimized power. Another optical switch embodiment includes an array of rhomboid prism assemblies positioned to receive the output beams from the switching array and such that the beams are split into substantially parallel working and monitor beams. Whereby the working beams pass into the plurality of output channels and the monitor beams pass into the plurality of beam monitoring elements where they are measured to provide information for adjusting the angular misalignment and the positional misalignment of the working beam.