US6097859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-wavelength cross-connect optical switch
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1998-02-12
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2018-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A cross-connect switch for fiber-optic communication networks employing a wavelength dispersive element, such as a grating, and a stack of regular (non-wavelength selective) cross bar switches using two-dimensional arrays of micromachined, electrically actuated, individually-tiltable, controlled deflection micro-mirrors for providing multiport switching capability for a plurality of wavelengths. Using a one-dimensional micromirror array, a fiber-optic based MEMS switched spectrometer that does not require mechanical motion of bulk components or large diode arrays can be constructed with readout capability for WDM network diagnosis or for general purpose spectroscopic applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Olav Solgaard
- 👤 Jonathan P. Heritage
- 👤 Amal R. Bhattarai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/0001; H04Q11/0005; G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/3516; G02B6/3518; G02B6/354; G02B6/356; G02B6/3592; G02B6/32; G02B6/3534; G02B6/3542; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3546; G02B6/3554; G02B6/3556; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3566; G02B6/3568; G02B6/357; G02B6/3582; G02B6/3584; H04Q2011/0007; H04Q2011/0024; H04Q2011/0026; H04Q11/0062; H04Q2011/0079; H04Q2011/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a wavelength dispersive element; (c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors; and (e) a plurality of optical elements for positioning optical beams reflected from said array of mirrors onto said output fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a wavelength dispersive element; (c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors; and (e) a plurality of optical elements for positioning optical beams reflected from said array of mirrors onto said output fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said wavelength dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising: (f) a second wavelength dispersive element; (g) said plurality optical elements associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (h) wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of optical elements position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a wavelength dispersive element; and (c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a wavelength dispersive element; and (c) a plurality of lenses associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (d) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, wherein said wavelength dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 6, further comprising: (e) a second wavelength dispersive element; and (f) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (g) wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a first wavelength dispersive element; (c) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element; (d) a second wavelength dispersive element; and (e) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (f) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from a plurality of input optic fibers onto a plurality of output optic fibers; (b) a first wavelength dispersive element; (c) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element; (d) a second wavelength dispersive element; and (e) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (f) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 11, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) a plurality of input optic fibers; (b) a plurality of output optic fibers: (c) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fibers onto said output optic fibers; (d) a first wavelength dispersive element; (e) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element; (f) a second wavelength dispersive element; and (g) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (h) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fiber optic switch, comprising: (a) a plurality of input optic fibers; (b) a plurality of output optic fibers: (c) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fibers onto said output optic fibers; (d) a first wavelength dispersive element; (e) a first plurality of lenses associated with said first wavelength dispersive element; (f) a second wavelength dispersive element; and (g) a second plurality of lenses associated with said second wavelength dispersive element; (h) wherein said first wavelength dispersive element and said first plurality of lenses position optical beams from said input optic fibers onto said array of mirrors and wherein said second wavelength dispersive element and said second plurality of lenses position optical beams reflected by said array of mirrors onto said output optic fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 14, wherein separate wavelength channels on each input optic fiber are switched independently by said array of mirrors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fiber optic switch as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of said wavelength dispersive elements comprises a diffraction grating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising: (a) a fiber opt ic input path; (b) a fiber optic output path; (c) a detector; (d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said fiber optic input path to said fiber optic output path or said detector; (e) a wavelength dispersive element; and (f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said fiber optic input path onto said array of mirrors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising: (a) a fiber opt ic input path; (b) a fiber optic output path; (c) a detector; (d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said fiber optic input path to said fiber optic output path or said detector; (e) a wavelength dispersive element; and (f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said fiber optic input path onto said array of mirrors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fiber optic spectrometer as recited in claim 17, wherein said fiber optic input path and said fiber optic output path share a single optic fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber optic spectrometer as recited in claim 17, wherein said fiber optic input path and said fiber optic output path are carried by separate optic fibers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising: (a) an input optic fiber; (b) an output optic fiber; (c) a detector; (d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fiber onto said output optic fiber or said detector; (e) a wavelength dispersive element; and (f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said input optic fiber onto said array of mirrors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
A fiber optic spectrometer, comprising: (a) an input optic fiber; (b) an output optic fiber; (c) a detector; (d) an array of actuated mirrors for switching optic signals from said input optic fiber onto said output optic fiber or said detector; (e) a wavelength dispersive element; and (f) a lens associated with said wavelength dispersive element; (g) wherein said wavelength dispersive element and said lens positions optical beams from said input optic fiber onto said array of mirrors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |