Patent ID: 6580846
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
An optical switch, comprising:a switching element having a movable signal reflective surface to direct an optical signal beam by reflection to one or more switching directions, a separate servo reflective surface fixed relative to said signal reflective surface to reflect a separate servo beam incident to said servo reflective surface, and an actuator engaged to change orientations of said signal and said servo reflective surfaces; a servo light source to produce and direct said servo beam to said servo reflective surface of said switching element; an optical position sensor positioned to measure a position of said servo beam reflected from said servo reflective surface of said switching element to produce a position signal indicative of a deviation between an actual switching direction and a desired switching direction of said signal beam; and a control unit to respond to said position signal to control said switching element so as to reduce said deviation to direct said signal beam substantially in said desired switching direction.