EP0286337A1
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EP
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Radiation deflector assembly
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1988-03-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A micromechanical cantilever beam (1) for use in an optical switch or other radiation deflector assembly includes a beam portion (2) comprising two parallel arms (5,6) hinged at one end to a supporting substrate (4) and at the other end to a load portion (3) which provides the major proportion of the total mass of the cantilever beam. The beam is deflected by the application of an electrostatic potential between electrodes on opposing surfaces (8,9) of the load portion and the supporting substrate respectively. This structure has improved switching performance in operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian William Stanley
- 👤 John Nicholas Shepherd
- 👤 Peter Scarber Dobson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H59/00; H01H59/0009; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3566; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3508; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/355; G02B6/3568; G02B6/357
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A radiation deflector comprising a deflectable cantilever beam of which one end is free and one end is hinged to a supporting substrate wherein the cantilever beam has its centre of mass closer to the free end of the beam than to the hinged end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A radiation deflector comprising a deflectable cantilever beam of which one end is free and one end is hinged to a supporting substrate wherein the cantilever beam has its centre of mass closer to the free end of the beam than to the hinged end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A radiation deflector according to claim 1 wherein the cantilever beam comprises a beam portion hinged to the substrate and a load portion at the free end of the beam portion and the load portion provides the major proportion of the total mass of the cantilever beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A radiation deflector assembly comprising at least three radiation waveguides; a controllable radiation deflector positioned such that when the deflector is in a first position radiation passes between one combination of two of the waveguides, and when the deflector is in a second position radiation passes between another combination of two of the waveguides; and control means responsive to control signals for controlling the position of the deflector wherein the deflector comprises a cantilever beam mounted and hinged in a common substrate with the waveguides and characterised in that the cantilever beam has its centre of mass closer to the free end of the beam than to the end hinged to the common substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A radiation deflector assembly comprising at least three radiation waveguides; a controllable radiation deflector positioned such that when the deflector is in a first position radiation passes between one combination of two of the waveguides, and when the deflector is in a second position radiation passes between another combination of two of the waveguides; and control means responsive to control signals for controlling the position of the deflector wherein the deflector comprises a cantilever beam mounted and hinged in a common substrate with the waveguides and characterised in that the cantilever beam has its centre of mass closer to the free end of the beam than to the end hinged to the common substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cantilever beam comprises a beam portion hinged to the substrate and a load portion at the free end of the beam portion and the load portion provides the major proportion of the total mass of the cantilever beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 4 wherein the length of the beam portion and the mass of the load portion are selected such that the first natural resonant frequency of the cantilever beam is substantially greater than the maximum frequency at which the deflector is to be switched between positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the control means comprises means for applying an electrostatic potential for displacing the cantilever beam deflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 6 wherein the control means include an electrode arranged such that the displacement force provided by an applied electrostatic potential effectively acts at the centre of mass of the load portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 3 wherein at least one of the waveguides is provided on the cantilever beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radiation deflector assembly according to claim 8 wherein the at least one waveguide runs longitudinally along the cantilever beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A radiation deflector substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Figures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A radiation deflector substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Figures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A radiation deflector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Figures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A radiation deflector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Figures.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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