G02B6/3518

FABRICATION OF A MICRO-MIRROR WITH REDUCED MOMENT OF INERTIA AND MEMS DEVICES
20230023348 · 2023-01-26 · ·

Methods, apparatuses, and methods of manufacture are described that provide one or more fixed blades mounted to a frame or substrate, one or more movable blades mounted to each structure to be moved, and flexures on which the structures are suspended which reduces moment of inertia during use.

Light module

A light module includes an optical element and a base on which the optical element is mounted. The optical element has an optical portion which has an optical surface; an elastic portion which is provided around the optical portion such that an annular region is formed; and a pair of support portions which is provided such that the optical portion is sandwiched in a first direction along the optical surface and in which an elastic force is applied and a distance therebetween is able to be changed in accordance with elastic deformation of the elastic portion. The base has a main surface, and a mounting region in which an opening communicating with the main surface is provided. The support portions are inserted into the opening in a state where an elastic force of the elastic portion is applied.

Apertures for reduced dynamic crosstalk and stray light control
11561345 · 2023-01-24 · ·

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for preventing or minimizing optical crosstalk in an optical circuit switch (“OCS”). The OCS may include a collimator lens assembly. The collimator lens assembly may include a lens array defined by a plurality of ports. Each port may include a lenslet and a spacer paired with each lenslet. Crosstalk may occur when light from other ports enter the target port's optical fiber. The collimator lens assembly may include an insert positioned relative to the lenslet. The insert may define an aperture that allows light from the target port to pass through. The insert may prevent a portion of light from adjacent ports from passing through the aperture. The insert may be located between the lenslet and spacer, on the curved surface of the lenslet, or on a plate located at a distance from the front of the lenslet.

Selector switch

An apparatus for network switching may include a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports, and a subset of pre-configured interconnection patterns including some but not all of the possible interconnection patterns between the input ports and the output ports. The apparatus may be communicatively coupled to a network via the input ports and/or the output ports. The apparatus may be configured to switch to a first interconnection pattern and a second interconnection pattern from the subset of pre-configured interconnection patterns. The first interconnection pattern and the second interconnection pattern may each provide a set of connections between the input ports and the output ports. At least one signal between the input ports and the output ports may be transmitted via the first interconnection pattern and/or the second interconnection pattern. Related methods are also provided.

Multi-axis MEMS mirror parking
11693187 · 2023-07-04 · ·

The present disclosure provides an improved method of parking a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror in an array of MEMS mirrors to protect against single high voltage channel failures in a driver. Two separate voltages are applied to each MEMS mirror to move and park the mirror out of a camera sensor field of view in a servo system. For example, a first voltage may be applied in a positive X direction and a second voltage may be applied in a positive Y direction which will move the mirror in a diagonal direction. If one of the high voltage channels fail, the mirror will still be parked and outside of the camera sensor field of view. If a high voltage channel fails, the servo system can park a mirror affected by the failure in an opposite corner. Moreover, if 2-axis parking is not feasible, the mirror can use single-voltage parking.

High Voltage Monitoring for Optical Switching Applications
20220413225 · 2022-12-29 ·

A diagnostic voltage or current path can be used for each MEMS actuator control channel to detect and diagnose faults in the actuator control signal path. Multiple measurement points provide additional capabilities of isolating faults among multiple subassemblies or components in the control signal path. The diagnostic voltage or current path uses ADC(s) and multiplexers to monitor multiple control channels and/or multiple measurement points in each control channel. Digitized voltages, or currents in the case of magnetic actuators, read from the diagnostic ADC are compared to expected values to detect and isolate faults.

Optical fiber module and optical switch

An optical fiber module is disclosed. The optical fiber module includes a first optical fiber as an MCF, a plurality of second optical fibers as MCFs, a first unit, and a second unit. The first unit has an hole holding the first optical fiber and a plurality of holes respectively holding the second optical fibers. These holes are independent of each other. Each optical fiber has a first part and a second part. An outer surface of a cladding of the first part is coated with a resin. An outer surface of a cladding of the second part is exposed from the resin. The first unit holds the first part. The second unit holds the second part. A boundary between the first part and the second part is positioned in a space between the first unit and the second unit.

Adjustable grid tracking transmitters and receivers

Optical telecommunication receivers and transmitters are described comprising dispersive elements and adjustable beam steering elements that are combined to provide optical grid tracking to adjust with very low power consumption to variations in the optical grid due to various changes, such as temperature fluctuations, age or other environmental or design changes. Thus, high bandwidth transmitters or receivers can be provides with low power consumption and/or low cost designs.

MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS CONTACT AREA REDUCTION
20230078156 · 2023-03-16 ·

In an example, a system includes a digital micromirror device (DMD). The DMD includes a hinge and one or more spring tips coupled to the hinge, where the hinge is configured to tilt toward a raised address electrode. The DMD includes a micromirror including a recessed mirror shelf and a reflective surface, where the recessed mirror shelf is coupled to the hinge, and where the recessed mirror shelf is configured to contact at least one of the one or more spring tips responsive to the hinge tilting toward the raised address electrode.

Glass fiber hole plates for 2D fiber collimators and methods for alignment and fabrication for optical switching applications
11630265 · 2023-04-18 · ·

An optical circuit switch including a two-dimensional fiber collimator includes a hole plate to hold and align a plurality of optical fibers. Fiber pathways within the hole plate can be formed using a femtosecond laser irradiation chemical etching (FLICE) technique. The use of the FLICE technique allows for extremely precise channels to be formed which allows for fibers to be aligned more closely with their intended alignment. The technique also allows for the channels or fiber pathways to be formed in a thicker material, which allows for greater structural support and robustness of the fiber collimator in use.