Patent ID: 6803842
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: G02B,H01H

Abstract:
A piezoelectric optical relay array of one or more array elements, wherein an array element of the one or more array elements comprises:a first input optical path; a first output optical path, optically aligned with the first input optical path to form a direct optical path; a second output optical path intersecting the first input optical path; a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of the first input optical path and the second output optical path; a solid slug adapted to move within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing, the solid slug having a planar surface wettable by liquid metal; a liquid metal volume covering the planar face of the solid slug to form a reflective surface; a first piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel so that it blocks the direct optical path and completes a reflected optical path from the first input optical path to the second output optical path; and a second piezoelectric actuator operable to move the solid slug within the channel to remove it from the direct optical path.