High speed optical switch and time division optical demultiplexer using a control beam at a linear/nonlinear interface
US4455643A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1982 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3515
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a high speed optical switch and the use of such switches to form a time division demultiplexer. The optical switch comprises a length of linear material (12) including an outer surface on a portion of which is formed a layer of nonlinear material (11) to form a nonlinear interface (10) at the boundary of the two materials. An input data light beam (14) is propagated in the linear material with a predetermined intensity and angle of incidence on the nonlinear interface to, by itself, cause total reflection of the input beam. A control light beam (11) is also selectively energized and directed at the nonlinear interface with an intensity and angle of incidence to cause a portion of the input data beam to be formed into a self-focused channel or beam propagating in the nonlinear material. The self-focused beam can then be detected at an edge of the nonlinear material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.