Optical Switch Diagnostic Device for MEMS Vibration Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
MEMS optical switch devices face difficulties in accurately diagnosing failure due to disturbances like vibration from the installation environment, making it challenging to determine if an optical path can be switched.
Innovation Solution
A switching availability diagnostic device that uses a detector to convert a partial optical communication signal with a diagnostic optical signal of lower frequency into an electric signal, extracts a diagnostic electric signal, and compares its amplitude with a reference electric signal to determine if the optical path can be switched, using a determination circuit to set a threshold for normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vibration detection means is used to detect micromechanical vibration of the movable portion, then failure diagnosis can be performed, but the diagnosis accuracy deteriorates due to environmental vibration disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful environmental vibration disturbances into a beneficial diagnostic tool by detecting the absence of expected micromechanical vibrations. When the optical switch element fails to generate its characteristic vibrations (below 20 kHz), the system identifies this lack of vibration as a failure condition, thereby turning environmental noise into a useful reference for diagnosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical vibration detection with acoustic wave detection using a microphone. Instead of using complex mechanical vibration sensors that are sensitive to environmental disturbances, the system uses acoustic detection to capture the sound waves generated by the micromechanical vibrations of the movable portion, providing a more reliable failure diagnosis method.
2Reliability
If micromechanical vibration detection is used for failure diagnosis, then switching status can be monitored, but the system becomes sensitive to environmental disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts environmental vibration disturbances into a beneficial reference by comparing the detected acoustic waves against expected vibration patterns. The environmental noise becomes part of the baseline comparison, allowing the system to reliably identify failures through the absence of characteristic vibrations rather than being disrupted by them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic wave detection as an intermediary between the mechanical vibrations and the diagnostic system. The microphone captures acoustic waves generated by the micromechanical vibrations, providing an intermediate measurement that is less sensitive to environmental disturbances while still reliably indicating the switching status and health of the optical switch element.
3Loss of information
If vibration excitation drive signal is used to generate micromechanical vibration, then diagnostic signal can be obtained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the acoustic detection system multi-functional by using the same microphone and signal processing circuitry for both failure diagnosis and switching status monitoring. The diagnostic system can detect both the presence/absence of vibrations for failure identification and the characteristic vibration patterns for switching status determination, eliminating the need for separate diagnostic equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical switch element serves its own diagnostic function by generating the vibrations that are detected and analyzed. The normal switching operations of the device create the micromechanical vibrations that the acoustic detection system monitors, eliminating the need for separate vibration excitation mechanisms or external diagnostic equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for accurate diagnosis of optical path switching without being affected by environmental disturbances, ensuring reliable operation of the optical switch device.
Implementation Method 1
a detector to receive a partial optical communication signal branched from an optical communication signal, convert the input partial optical communication signal into an electric signal
Data Source
AI summary
This switching availability diagnostic device includes: a detection unit that receives a partial optical communication signal branched from an optical communication signal on which a diagnostic optical signal having a frequency lower than a frequency of an optical communication signal output from an output port of an optical switch element is superimposed, the optical switch element including one or more input ports and two or more output ports and having an optical path from an input port to an output port, the optical path being switchable, converts the input partial optical communication signal into an electric signal, and extracts an electric signal having a frequency equal to or lower than a set frequency from the converted electric signal as a diagnostic electric signal; and a switching availability diagnostic unit that compares an amplitude value of the diagnostic electric signal extracted by the detection unit with a set threshold.