GB2196754A - Light switching mechanism - Google Patents

Light switching mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2196754A
GB2196754A GB08625591A GB8625591A GB2196754A GB 2196754 A GB2196754 A GB 2196754A GB 08625591 A GB08625591 A GB 08625591A GB 8625591 A GB8625591 A GB 8625591A GB 2196754 A GB2196754 A GB 2196754A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mirror
piezo
switching mechanism
light switching
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08625591A
Other versions
GB8625591D0 (en
Inventor
Francis Charles Mclean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oxley Developments Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Oxley Developments Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oxley Developments Co Ltd filed Critical Oxley Developments Co Ltd
Priority to GB08625591A priority Critical patent/GB2196754A/en
Publication of GB8625591D0 publication Critical patent/GB8625591D0/en
Priority to FR8714591A priority patent/FR2605753A1/en
Priority to DE19873735982 priority patent/DE3735982A1/en
Publication of GB2196754A publication Critical patent/GB2196754A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/3564—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details
    • G02B6/3568—Mechanical details of the actuation mechanism associated with the moving element or mounting mechanism details characterised by the actuating force
    • G02B6/3578—Piezoelectric force
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/35—Optical coupling means having switching means
    • G02B6/351—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements
    • G02B6/3512—Optical coupling means having switching means involving stationary waveguides with moving interposed optical elements the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror

Description

GB2196754A SPECIFICATION justing the d.c. voltage applied to the piezo
crystal via lead wires 12 but which is fixed Light switching mechanism firmly to a base member 14 for example at its lower surface 16 as shown, so that the level The present invention is concerned with a 70 of its upper surface 18 rises and fails in de mechanism by which light can be switched by pendence upon the d.c. voltage applied to the selectively altering the direction of its path. crystal. Resting against one upper edge 20 of It is becoming the practice in many situa- the crystal upper surface 18 is an inclined mir- tions to use light beams to convey information ror 22 whose one end 22a is hingedly pivoted from a source to one or more destinations. 75 to the base member 14 (or some other part Light switching depends upon being able se- (not shown) which is mounted in fixed rela lectively to deflect a light beam from its nor- tionship with the base member 14). Instead of mal straight line path from the source to said being pivoted to the base member by means one or more destinations and it is an object of a hinge, the mirror 22 could be connected of the present invention to provide a mecha- 80 to the base member 14 by way of a flexible nism which makes this possible. coupling, it only being necessary that the mir- According to the present invention, there is ror be capable of angular displacement about provided a light switching mechanism compris- said one end 22a.
ing a mirror whose angular position is deter- By virtue of this arrangement, the angle a of mined by the voltage(s) applied to one or 85 the mirror 22 relative to the base member 14 more piezo-electric devices to which the mir- can be adjusted by suitable selection of the ror is mechanically coupled, whereby a light voltage applied by way of the leads 12 to the signal applied to the mirror can be selectively crystal. If then a light beam A is caused to be deflected to any of a plurality of destinations incident on the mirror along a particular direc by control of the applied to the piezoelectric 90 tion, the angle P between the incident beam device(s). from the light source and the mirror is depen- In one embodiment, the mirror is mounted dent upon the height (shape) of the piezo- for pivotal displacement about one end and is crystal and hence on the control voltage ap coupled mechanically (either directly or indiplied to the crystal. Thus, the control voltage rectly) to a single-piezo electric device such 95 may be used to direct the incident light signal that the shape of the latter device, as deter- to any one of a multiplicity of destinations D, mined by the control voltage applied to it, D2, D. etc. Respective detectors can then be determines the angular position of the mirror located at these destinations for responding to about said one end. light signals directed thereto.
Advantageously, the single-piezo electric de- 100 Fig. 2 shows an alternative arrangement of vice is fixed so that its height depends on the the switch in which two piezo-electric crystal control voltage applied to it, and the mirror devices 30a, 30b are used to provide beam engages (either directly or indirectly) against switching to either or both sides of an inci the piezo-electric device so that its angular dent beam F. In this case, a mirror 32 is position depends upon the voltage-dependent 105 mounted on the two piezo- electric crystal de height of the piezo-electric device. vices 30a, 30b which are fixed in relation to a In another embodiment, the mirror is sup- base 34. By the application of suitable control ported at two opposite ends by respective potentials to the devices by the leads 36a, piezo-electric devices whose control voltages 36b, the relative heights of the two piezo can be adjusted separately, whereby by vary- 110 crystals 30a, 30b can be selectively adjusted ing the voltages applied to the two piezo-elec- so as to deflect the incident beam F to either A tric devices the mirror can be pivoted about a destinations E, E2, E3 etc or G, G2, G3 etc.
point between the latter devices whereby to In either of the abovedescribed embodi- selectively deflect to any of a plurality of des- ments the mirror 22, 32 may be a broadband tinations a light beam directed at said point. 115 mirror or may be coated such that reflections A respective detector can be located at from the mirror is only of those wavelengths each of said destinations for responding to for which the switch is intended to be effec the light beam when deflected thereto. tive. Thus, the switch would then be insensi- The invention is described further hereinafter tive to interference by stray light of wave- by way of example, with reference to the ac- 120 length other than that of the wanted signal.
companying drawings, in which: In order to minimise the effect of crosstalk Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of between destinations caused by beam scatter- the embodiment of a mechanism in accor- ing, a louvred light control or similar film may dance with the present invention; and be imposed between either the source and the Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a 125 mirror or the mirror and the destination detec- second embodiment of a mechanism in accor- tors (not shown).
dance with the present invention. The invention is not limited to the two con- Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a figurations illustrated and any mechanical inter- piezoelectric crystal device 10 whose external connection between the piezo-electric device(s) configuration can be selectively varied by ad- 130 and the mirror can be chosen which enables 2 GB2196754A 2 the angular orientation of the mirror to be se lectively varied by altering the control vol tage(s) applied to the piezo crystal(s).

Claims (6)

1. A light switching mechanism comprising a mirror whose angular position is determined by the voltage(s) applied to one or more piezo-electric devices to which the mirror is mechanically coupled, whereby a light signal applied to the mirror can be selectively deflected to any of a plurality of destinations by control of the voltage(s) applied to the piezo-electric device(s).
2. A light switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror is mounted for pivotal displacement about one end and is coupled mechanically (either directed or indi rectly) to a single-piezo electric device such that the shape of the latter device, as deter mined by the control voltage applied to it, determines the angular position of the mirror about said one end.
3. A light switching mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the single-piezo electric device is fixed so that its height depends on the control voltage applied to it, and the mir ror engages (either directly or indirectly) against the piezo-electric device so that its an gular position depends upon the voltage-cle pendent height of the piezo-electric device.
4. A light switching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror is supported at two opposite ends by respective piezo-electric devices whose control voltages can be ad justed separately, whereby by varying the vol tages applied to the two piezoelectric devices the mirror can be pivoted about a point be tween the latter devices whereby to selec tively deflect to any of a plurality of destina tions a light beam directed at said point.
5. A light switching system incorporating a light switching mechanism as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a respective cletec tor is located at each of said destinations for responding to the light beam when deflected thereto.
6. A light switching mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying draw ings.
Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/7 1 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Lid Con. 1/87
GB08625591A 1986-10-25 1986-10-25 Light switching mechanism Withdrawn GB2196754A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08625591A GB2196754A (en) 1986-10-25 1986-10-25 Light switching mechanism
FR8714591A FR2605753A1 (en) 1986-10-25 1987-10-22 LIGHT SWITCHING DEVICE
DE19873735982 DE3735982A1 (en) 1986-10-25 1987-10-23 LIGHT SWITCHING DEVICE

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08625591A GB2196754A (en) 1986-10-25 1986-10-25 Light switching mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8625591D0 GB8625591D0 (en) 1986-11-26
GB2196754A true GB2196754A (en) 1988-05-05

Family

ID=10606327

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08625591A Withdrawn GB2196754A (en) 1986-10-25 1986-10-25 Light switching mechanism

Country Status (3)

Country Link
DE (1) DE3735982A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2605753A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2196754A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2253923A (en) * 1991-03-07 1992-09-23 Mitsubishi Materials Corp Piezoelectric actuator to [un]block or redirect light path

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1440688A (en) * 1973-04-26 1976-06-23 Siemens Ag Piezoelectrically-operated light beam deflectors

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3544201A (en) * 1968-01-02 1970-12-01 Gen Telephone & Elect Optical beam deflector
US3758199A (en) * 1971-11-22 1973-09-11 Sperry Rand Corp Piezoelectrically actuated light deflector
JPS5589805A (en) * 1978-12-28 1980-07-07 Kureha Chem Ind Co Ltd Light processing device
GB2092770B (en) * 1981-01-29 1984-06-13 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Adjustable mirror mounting device

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1440688A (en) * 1973-04-26 1976-06-23 Siemens Ag Piezoelectrically-operated light beam deflectors

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2253923A (en) * 1991-03-07 1992-09-23 Mitsubishi Materials Corp Piezoelectric actuator to [un]block or redirect light path
GB2253923B (en) * 1991-03-07 1994-05-04 Mitsubishi Materials Corp An optical switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8625591D0 (en) 1986-11-26
FR2605753A1 (en) 1988-04-29
DE3735982A1 (en) 1988-05-26

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)