Patent ID: 6760147
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A control apparatus of an optical signal exchanger which includes a first mirror array and a second mirror array, each having a plurality of tilt mirrors arranged on a plane, each tilt mirror having a reflecting surface an angle of which is controllable, and which sequentially reflects an input optical signal by said first and second mirror arrays to output from a specific position, for controlling the angle of the reflecting surface of each of the tilt mirrors of said first and second mirror arrays, comprising:an optical power detection unit that detects power of the optical signal output from said specific position; and an angle control unit that controls the angle of at least one of the reflecting surfaces of the tilt mirrors of said first and second mirror arrays, which have reflected the optical signal, so that the optical power detected by said optical power detection unit becomes constant at a target value set corresponding to said specific position; wherein said angle control unit includes: a first mirror drive section that changes stepwise the angle of the reflecting surface of each tilt mirror of said first mirror array in a constant control direction; a second mirror drive section that changes stepwise the angle of the reflecting surface of each tilt mirror of said second mirror array in a constant control direction; and a comparison control section that calculates absolute values of differences between said target value and respective values of the output light power that are detected by said optical power detection unit immediately before and after the angle of the reflecting surface is changed by at least one of said first mirror drive section and said second mirror drive section to compare the absolute values with each other, and determines respective control directions in said first mirror drive section and said second mirror drive section based on said comparison result, to feedback control the angle of the reflecting surface so that the absolute values of said differences become minimum.