Patent ID: 6647172
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch, comprisinga first micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device containing a first number of micro mirrors; a second MEMS device containing a second number of micro mirrors; and a first imaging system optically coupled to said first MEMS device at one optical end so as to produce an image of said first MEMS device at the optical end of said imaging system opposite to said optical end at which said first MEMS device is located; wherein (i) said image of said first MEMS device and (ii) at least one of the set consisting of (a) said second MEMS device and (b) an image of said second MEMS device, form a virtual MEMS device having a number of micro mirrors equal to the sum of said first and second numbers.