Patent ID: 6882770
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical switch, comprising a first micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device containing a first number of micro mirrors tiltable about at least a first axis; a second micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device containing a second number of micro mirrors tiltable about at least said first axis; and a first imaging system optically coupled to said first MEMS device so as to produce an image of each of said micro mirrors of said first MEMS device on a corresponding micro mirror of said second MEMS device; so that at least one of said micro mirrors of said first MEMS device is grouped by said first imaging system with at least one of said micro mirrors of said second MEMS device such that the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said first MEMS device and the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said second MEMS device combine to produce an overall effective angle about said first axis for said group which is different than either the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said first MEMS device and the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said second MEMS device when neither one of the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said first MEMS device and the angle of reflection from said at least one grouped micro mirror of said second MEMS device is zero.