Patent ID: 6647174
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical transmission bypass device, comprising:a first optical port optically coupled to a first optical transmission line, wherein the first optical port receives optical transmission data provided by the first optical transmission line; a first actuating optical reflector with a reflective face that, in a first state, is disposed to place the reflective face of the first actuating optical reflector in a first position with respect to an optical path of the received optical transmission data, and, in a second state, is disposed to place the reflective face of the first actuating optical reflector in a second position with respect to the optical path of the received optical transmission data, wherein the first actuating optical reflector is in the first state when the first actuating optical reflector is not electrically powered; a second optical port optically coupled to a second optical transmission line, wherein the second optical port provides optical transmission data for transmission by the second optical transmission line; a second actuating optical reflector with a reflective face that, in the first state, is disposed to place the reflective face of the second actuating optical reflector in a first position with respect to an optical path of the optical transmission data provided by the second optical port to the second optical transmission line, and, in the second state, is disposed to place the reflective face of the second actuating optical reflector in a second position with respect to the optical path of the optical transmission data provided by the second optical port to the second optical transmission line, wherein the second actuating reflector is in the first state when the second actuating optical reflector is not electrically powered; and a third optical transmission line positioned between the first actuating reflector and the second actuating reflector; wherein, in the first state: the third optical transmission line is optically coupled at a first end to the first optical port by the reflective face of the first actuating optical reflector and optically coupled at a second end to the second optical port by the reflective face of the second actuating optical reflector, such that received optical transmission data at the first optical port is reflected from the first reflective face of the first actuating optical reflector into the first end of the third optical transmission line and out of the second end of the third optical transmission line and reflected from the second reflective face of the second actuating optical reflector to the second optical port to provide the received optical transmission data for transmission by the second optical transmission line.