How does the GLV device differ from tilting mirror MEMS?

In many tilting mirror designs, the MEMS device is etched out of a silicon substrate, leaving a raised mirror on a bearing surface. The movement and positioning of the mirror may require precise control electronics and accurate feedback mechanisms. In operation, this type of device will “sweep” light at constant amplitude from the source to the destination fiber. In other words, the light amplitude is constant; the output angle is variable.

In contrast, the GLV device is an addressable diffraction grating that can serve as a simple mirror in the static state, or a variable grating in the dynamic state. This unique approach offers significant advantages in terms of speed, accuracy, reliability and manufacturability over the common “tilting mirror” MEMS structures.