Patent ID: 6549692
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch for selectively switching optical signals between input fibers and output fibers, comprising:a switching substrate including a plurality of micro-mirrors that are individually tiltable about at least a first axis relative to the switching substrate, the micro-mirrors for reflecting optical signal beams and an out-of-band optical position control signal beam incident thereto, the optical signal beams and out-of-band position control signal beam being reflected in selected angular directions based on tilt angles of the micro-mirrors about at least the first axis; a beam splitter positioned in an optical path of the optical signal beams and the out-of-band optical position control signal beam reflected from the micro-mirrors, wherein the optical signal beams and the out-of-band position control signal beam exit the beam splitter in different directions; an optical position detector having a sensing surface; a lens assembly for focusing the out-of band optical position control signal beam from the beam splitter to produce at least one beam spot on the sensing surface of the optical position detector, wherein the optical position detector generates beam spot position signals indicative of the position of the at least one beam spot on the sensing surface; and control circuitry that generates control signals for controlling tilt angles of the micro-mirrors of the switching substrate responsive to the beam spot position signals.