ELECTROMECHANICALLY CONTROLLED OPTICAL ELEMENT

摘要

An optical switch utilizing an actuator to move an optical element into or o ut of an optical pathway is described. The optical element may be coupled to a movabl e shuttle and driven by a motor between two rest positions. The shuttle may be latched in the rest positions. The optical element's position may be controlled with a stop that contacts t he shuttle to provide accuracy and precision about multiple axes. The material used to construct t he actuator's components may aid in repeatedly positioning the optical element with precision. The actuator may incorporate features that allow the optical element to be passively aligned in a bank of actuators to make a M x N switch.