Optical Switch Actuator Reduction via Rotating Prism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical switches with multiple input and output ports require a large number of actuators, making them bulky and costly, and necessitate complex control systems due to the need for one actuator per port.
Innovation Solution
The optical switch design incorporates a plurality of displaceable optical elements corresponding to either the number of input or output ports, reducing the number of actuators required and allowing for more compact and cost-efficient construction, with a configuration of fixed input and output ports and a displaceable reflective or periscope prism arrangement for beam direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If one actuator per port is used for multiple input and output switching, then switching functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple actuators are merged into a single actuator that controls a common reflective element. The single actuator rotates the reflective element to different angular positions, thereby directing light beams from different input ports to different output ports. This combining approach reduces the number of actuators from M+N (where M is number of input ports and N is number of output ports) to just one actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
A single reflective element serves multiple functions by being rotatable to different positions. The same reflective element can direct beams from any input port to any output port depending on its angular position, making it a universal switching element that replaces multiple dedicated actuators and reflective elements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple displaceable optical elements are used for each port, then switching precision is maintained, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple displaceable optical elements are merged into a single rotatable reflective element. Instead of having separate movable elements for each port, one reflective element performs all switching functions by rotating to appropriate angles, significantly reducing the volume of moving parts while maintaining switching precision through angular control.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching mechanism transitions from linear displacement of multiple elements in one dimension to rotational movement of a single element in angular space. This dimensional change allows one element to achieve the functionality of multiple elements, reducing overall device size while maintaining precision through angular positioning.
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 design achieves high-quality switching with reduced complexity and cost, enabling more compact and efficient optical switches by minimizing the number of actuators needed for multiple input and output port switching.
Implementation Method 1
a first periscope prism for capturing a beam from an input port and directing a beam towards a second periscope prism for capturing a beam exiting from said first periscope prism and directing a beam to an output port
Data Source
AI summary
An optical switch comprises a plurality of input ports and a plurality of out port ports; a plurality of displaceable optical elements for directing beams from a selected input to a selected output; wherein the number of displaceable elements substantially corresponds to either the number of input ports or the number of output ports.