Ferrofluid optical switches

US4384761A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael John Brady · Brewster, US
• Lawrence V. Gregor · Hopewell Junction, US
• Mark A. Johnson · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 1980
• Grant date: May 24, 1983
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3552
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A controllable magnetic field influences the position or shape or density distribution of a ferrofluid so that the ferrofluid causes or prevents the coupling of light between optical paths either by physically causing movement of a waveguide (e.g., optical fiber) or by itself physically moving into or out of a coupling region between optical paths.