Patent ID: 6636656
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising:a first plurality of ports; a second plurality of ports; a first plurality of mirrors disposed on a first surface; a second plurality of mirrors disposed on a second surface; a dichroic optical element, wherein each one of the first plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct light incident from a corresponding one of the first plurality of ports to any one of the second plurality of mirrors via the dichroic optical element, and wherein each one of the second plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct to a corresponding one of the second plurality of ports, light incident from any one of the first plurality of mirrors; a first light source located to illuminate the first plurality of mirrors with control light; a first position sensing detector located to detect control light that has been reflected by the first plurality of mirrors, wherein signals provided by the first position sensing detector correspond to orientations of the first plurality of mirrors; a second light source located to illuminate the second plurality of mirrors with control light; and a second position sensing detector located to detect control light that has been reflected by the second plurality of mirrors, wherein signals provided by the second position sensing detector correspond to orientations of the second plurality of mirrors.