AN OPTO-MECHANICAL OPTICAL PATH RETARDATION MULTIPLIER FOR OPTICAL MEMS APPLICATIONS

Abstract:

An optical Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device provides an optical path retardation multiplier. The MEMS device includes a moveable corner cube reflector, a fixed mirror and a MEMS actuator. The moveable corner cube reflector is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and reflect the incident beam through 180 degrees towards the fixed mirror. The fixed mirror is optically coupled to reflect a reflected beam back towards the moveable corner cube reflector along a reverse path of the incident beam. The MEMS actuator is coupled to the moveable corner cube reflector to cause a displacement of the moveable corner cube reflector to extend an optical path length of the reflected beam.