Inventors:
Elisabeth Marley Koontz - Richardson TX, US
Donald A. Powell - Dallas TX, US
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX
International Classification:
G02B 6/34, G02B 6/26, G02B 6/42
US Classification:
385 37, 385 15, 385 16, 385 18, 385 31, 385 33, 385 39, 385 47, 385 49, 385 50, 385 88, 385 89, 385 92
Abstract:
An optical module having an integral optical waveguide with waveguide ports at each end. The optical waveguide receives an input light beam through a first waveguide port. The input light beam passes through the waveguide and is emitted from the second waveguide port, where it is reflected by the reflective surface. After being reflected by the reflective surface, the input light beam can be directed onto the surface of a DMD array, where the input light beam can be selectively reflected in a particular direction. The reflective surface may also comprise a diffractive grating, thereby enabling wavelength selective switching. In addition, the reflective surface may comprise a generally concave surface that converts a diverging input light beam into a generally collimated light beam, thereby facilitating more accurate selection and switching by the DMD array.