US 12,244,199 B2
Electromagnetic optical shutter with movable permanent magnet and integrated aperture
Brian McGee, Orlando, FL (US)
Assigned to OCEAN OPTICS, INC., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed by Ocean Optics, Inc., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/806,228.
Prior Publication US 2023/0402908 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. H02K 33/16 (2006.01); H01F 7/06 (2006.01); H01F 27/30 (2006.01); H02K 1/34 (2006.01); H02K 3/26 (2006.01); H02K 41/02 (2006.01); H05K 1/11 (2006.01); H05K 1/18 (2006.01); G01J 1/04 (2006.01); G02B 26/02 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 33/16 (2013.01) [H01F 7/064 (2013.01); H01F 27/306 (2013.01); H02K 1/34 (2013.01); H02K 3/26 (2013.01); H02K 41/02 (2013.01); H05K 1/115 (2013.01); H05K 1/185 (2013.01); G01J 1/044 (2013.01); G02B 26/02 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device that comprises an optical shutter device for providing a shutter operation in an optical path, wherein the optical shutter device comprises:
a printed circuit board (PCB) structure formed of a PCB dielectric material and structured to include (1) first and second surfaces that oppose each other on two opposite sides of the PCB structure, (2) one or more first metal layers located at or along a first normal direction of the first surface to include first metal conductive lines, (3) one or more second metal layers located at or along a second normal direction of the second surface to include second metal conductive lines and spaced away from the one or more first metal layers by a body of the PCB dielectric material, and (4) a plurality of electrically conductive vias formed inside the PCB structure and structured and connected to provide electrical connections through the PCB dielectric material between the one or more first metal layers and the one or more second metal layers to form a coil of a winding electrical conductive path with the first and second metal conductive lines so that the coil has a coil direction parallel to the first and second surfaces, wherein the coil is connected to receive an electrical current to induce a magnetic field whose magnetic poles are controlled by a direction of the electrical current in the coil;
a channel formed in the PCB structure and located between the first and second surfaces within the coil and structured to extend along the coil direction;
a permanent magnet shaped to be placed in the channel within the coil to be movable along the channel in response to a direction and a magnitude of the electrical current in the coil; and
a through hole formed in the PCB structure to penetrate through the first and second surfaces and the PCB dielectric material therebetween and located to pass through a part of the channel so that the through hole can be opened or closed as an optical shutter by a movement of the permanent magnet in the channel in response to the electrical current in the coil.