Patent ID: 6768572
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
A switch array, comprising:a substrate having a surface, a plurality of TIR switches having a respective plurality of TIR surfaces, said switches mounted such that said TIR surfaces extend substantially orthogonally to said surface of said substrate, at least one input collimator mounted to receive an input beam from a waveguide and transmit a substantially collimated input beam towards at least one of said TIR surfaces, and at least one coupling element positioned to receive said substantially collimated input beam and couple it to a waveguide as an output beam, wherein said collimated input beam passing between said switches has a maximum beam size, said array further comprising a free space region between adjacent switches, said free space region comprising material that is substantially optically transmissive to said collimated input beam and being substantially devoid of boundaries that limit said beam size of said collimated input beam traveling between said switches so as to provide for free space propagation of said collimated input beam.