US5841916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frustrated total internal reflection device
Assignee: Optical Switch Corp
•
Filing: 1997-11-17
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Granted: 1998-11-24
•
Expires: 2017-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A device for processing an optical signal includes a refractor with a reflecting surface for reflecting the optical signal by frustrated total internal reflection. In one embodiment, the device includes a bimorph transducer coupled on one end to the refractor and on the opposing end to a switchplate. In another embodiment, two ends of the bimorph transducer are coupled to the refractor and the switchplate is coupled between the two ends.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H. Laughlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/351; G02B6/3522
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; and a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; wherein the actuator is operable to apply peel forces to the switchplate to move the switchplate from the second position to the first position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; and a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; wherein the actuator is operable to apply peel forces to the switchplate to move the switchplate from the second position to the first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a bimorph transducer operable to position the switchplate in a selected one of the first position and the second position in response to a control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the switchplate further comprises a contact surface having a contact area operable to proximally contact the refractor, the contact area being a portion of the total area of the contact surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising: an air gap spacer coupled between the actuator and the switchplate; and a spacer coupled between the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the switchplate further comprises: a contact surface operable to proximally contact the refractor; and a reflective surface having a bias angle with respect to the contact surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the refractor is a prism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the refractor is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the actuator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the one end of the actuator is coupled to the reflecting surface of the refractor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising an air gap spacer coupled between the actuator and the switchplate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
The device of claim 1, A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; and a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal, wherein the switchplate comprises a contact surface, and wherein at least one of the contact surface of the switchplate and the reflecting surface of the refractor is convex.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; and a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; wherein the actuator is operable to controllably vary the spacing between the refractor and the switchplate to generate a first output beam and a second output beam simultaneously.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; and a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; wherein the actuator is operable to controllably vary the spacing between the refractor and the switchplate to generate a first output beam and a second output beam simultaneously.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; a conductive element on the switchplate; and a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the switchplate and the refractor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; a conductive element on the switchplate; and a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the switchplate and the refractor.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; a conductive element on the actuator; and a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having one end coupled to the refractor and an opposing end; a switchplate coupled to the opposing end of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal; a conductive element on the actuator; and a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having two ends coupled to the refractor; and a switchplate coupled to the actuator between the two ends of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
78 words
A device for processing an optical signal, comprising: a refractor having a reflecting surface operable to reflect the optical signal by total internal reflection; an actuator having two ends coupled to the refractor; and a switchplate coupled to the actuator between the two ends of the actuator, the switchplate having a first position spaced apart from the refractor and a second position in proximal contact with the refractor to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a bimorph transducer operable to position the switchplate in a selected one of the first position and the second position in response to a control signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the switchplate further comprises a contact surface having a contact area for proximally contacting the refractor, the contact area being a portion of the total area of the contact surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the switchplate further comprises a contact surface, and wherein at least one of the contact surface of the switchplate and the reflecting surface of the refractor is convex.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the switchplate further comprises: a contact surface operable to proximally contact the refractor; and a reflective surface having a bias angle with respect to the contact surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the refractor is a prism.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 14, wherein a longitudinal axis of the refractor is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the actuator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 14, further comprising an air gap spacer coupled between the actuator and the switchplate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 14, further comprising: an air gap spacer coupled between the actuator and the switchplate; and a spacer coupled between the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the two ends of the actuator comprise a first end and a second end, the device further comprising: a first spacer coupled between the first end of the actuator and the refractor; and a second spacer coupled between the second end of the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 14, wherein the actuator is operable to controllably vary the spacing between the refractor and the switchplate to generate a first output beam and a second output beam simultaneously.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 14, further comprising: a conductive element on the switchplate; a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the switchplate and the refractor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 14, further comprising: a conductive element on the actuator; a conductive reference displaced from the conductive element, wherein the conductive element and the conductive reference form a capacitor having a capacitance which represents the spacing between the actuator and the refractor.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for frustrating the total internal reflection of an optical signal, comprising: providing an optical signal at an input surface of a refractor; reflecting the optical signal at a reflective surface of the refractor by total internal reflection such that the optical signal exits the refractor at a first position on an output surface of the refractor; placing a switchplate in proximal contact with the reflective surface of the refractor; reflecting the optical signal at a reflective surface of the switchplate such that the optical signal exits the refractor at a second position on the output surface of the refractor; and applying peel forces to the switchplate to move the switchplate out of proximal contact with the reflective surface of the refractor.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for frustrating the total internal reflection of an optical signal, comprising: providing an optical signal at an input surface of a refractor; reflecting the optical signal at a reflective surface of the refractor by total internal reflection such that the optical signal exits the refractor at a first position on an output surface of the refractor; placing a switchplate in proximal contact with the reflective surface of the refractor; reflecting the optical signal at a reflective surface of the switchplate such that the optical signal exits the refractor at a second position on the output surface of the refractor; and applying peel forces to the switchplate to move the switchplate out of proximal contact with the reflective surface of the refractor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of placing a switchplate comprises activating an actuator coupled to the switchplate in response to a control signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the switchplate comprises: a contact surface; and a reflective surface having a bias angle with respect to the contact surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 27, further comprising controllably varying the spacing between the switchplate and the refractor to generate a first output beam and a second output beam simultaneously.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-23 | 2002-05-25 | 2002-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-23 | 2006-05-25 | 2006-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-23 | 2010-05-25 | 2010-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |