Using Heat to Move Tiny Mirrors for Controlling Light Beams
A system that uses tiny, heat-powered mechanical arms to move mirrors into the path of light beams, effectively acting as a switch for fiber optic networks.
Original patent title: “USRE39833E1 - Thermally actuated spectroscopic optical switch”
A system that uses tiny, heat-powered mechanical arms to move mirrors into the path of light beams, effectively acting as a switch for fiber optic networks. Granted to Southwest Research Institute SwRI in 2007 with 25 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an optical switch built on a small substrate, similar to a computer chip. It uses 'cantilevered arms'—small beams anchored at one end—that hold a tiny mirror at the other. When heat or electricity is applied, the arm bends due to differences in how its materials expand, pushing the mirror into the path of a light beam coming from an optical fiber. This allows the system to physically redirect light from one fiber to another, acting like a railroad switch for data signals.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover optical switches that use magnetic fields or electrostatic force to move mirrors.
- Does not cover systems where the light path is redirected by changing the refractive index of a material rather than physically moving a mirror.
- Does not cover switches that do not use a cantilevered arm structure with specific thermal expansion properties.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using a 'bimetallic' or differential thermal expansion effect within a micro-scale cantilever to achieve precise mechanical movement without needing complex motors or external actuators.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Fiber optic network routing equipment
Spectroscopic analysis instruments
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) optical switches
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Managing light signals in fiber optic networks is difficult because you cannot simply 'pause' light like an electrical current. This technology provides a way to route data signals physically, which is essential for high-speed telecommunications and spectroscopy equipment where light needs to be directed to different sensors or receptors without losing signal quality.
Filed
June 13, 2005
Granted
September 11, 2007
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) developed this as a research entity. The technology is foundational to the field of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), which is currently utilized by major telecommunications infrastructure providers and manufacturers of optical testing equipment.
Market impact
This patent represents a specific approach to MEMS-based optical switching. It contributed to the broader industry shift toward miniaturizing physical optical components, allowing for smaller, more efficient routing hardware in high-bandwidth data centers and laboratory diagnostic tools.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an optical switch built on a small substrate, similar to a computer chip. It uses 'cantilevered arms'—small beams anchored at one end—that hold a tiny mirror at the other. When heat or electricity is applied, the arm bends due to differences in how its materials expand, pushing the mirror into the path of a light beam coming from an optical fiber. This allows the system to physically redirect light from one fiber to another, acting like a railroad switch for data signals.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using a 'bimetallic' or differential thermal expansion effect within a micro-scale cantilever to achieve precise mechanical movement without needing complex motors or external actuators.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover optical switches that use magnetic fields or electrostatic force to move mirrors.
- Does not cover systems where the light path is redirected by changing the refractive index of a material rather than physically moving a mirror.
- Does not cover switches that do not use a cantilevered arm structure with specific thermal expansion properties.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
17/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$9K – $28K
Midpoint $18K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
25 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wuest, M. P., & Mitchell, J. N. (2007). Using Heat to Move Tiny Mirrors for Controlling Light Beams (U.S. Patent No. RE39,833). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE39833/tpa-variants
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Heat to Move Tiny Mirrors for Controlling Light Beams cover?
A system that uses tiny, heat-powered mechanical arms to move mirrors into the path of light beams, effectively acting as a switch for fiber optic networks.
Who owns patent US RE39833?
Southwest Research Institute SwRI owns this patent, granted in 2007.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 11, 2027, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE39833 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Managing light signals in fiber optic networks is difficult because you cannot simply 'pause' light like an electrical current. This technology provides a way to route data signals physically, which is essential for high-speed telecommunications and spectroscopy equipment where light needs to be directed to different sensors or receptors without losing signal quality.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover optical switches that use magnetic fields or electrostatic force to move mirrors.
Patent monitoring