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:
Jun. 07, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2003
Marvin Glenn Wong, Woodland Park, CO (US);
Arthur Fong, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Marvin Glenn Wong, Woodland Park, CO (US);
Arthur Fong, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A piezoelectric optical relay array having one or more array elements. Each array element contains a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing by the action of piezoelectric elements. The liquid metal slug is moved in or out of the transparent mirror housing to select between the optical paths. When the liquid metal slug is within the transparent mirror housing, an incoming optical signal is reflected from a reflective surface of the slug. The liquid metal of the slug adheres to wettable metal surfaces within the channel to provide a latching mechanism.