Patent ID: 6445502
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing, the apparatus comprising:an inner conductive layer comprising an at least substantially conductive material; and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns and wherein at least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction; wherein the control signal comprises a voltage operable to create one of a plurality of selectable non-zero voltage differentials between the mirror strips and the inner conductive layer to result in one of a plurality of selectable angles of rotation of the mirror strips, and a corresponding one of a plurality of selectable attenuations of the input signal.