Patent · US Expired

Optical switch

US4408831A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
1References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 24, 1981
Grant dateOct 11, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3598
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical switch for switching laser beams, having a transparent glass plate with a reflection film on the surface of the same has been found. When the reflection film is at the first position, the first input beam is coupled with the output beam through the transparent glass plate, while the second input beam is prevented by said reflection film. When the reflection film is at the second position, the first input beam is prevented by said reflection film, and the second input beam is coupled with the output beam through the reflection by said reflection film. Thus, according to the displacement of the transparent glass plate together with the reflection film, the input beams are switched. Due to the above operational principle, the output optical level does not decrease even during the transient time, and then, the present optical switch is utilized in an optical repeater for digital communication.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.