Optical device or switch for controlling radiation conducted in an optical waveguide

US4505539A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Franz Auracher · Munich, DE
• Hermann Buerk · Maisach, DE
• Rudolf Keil · Munich, DE
• Michael Stockmann · Munich, DE
• Kaspar Weingand · Tegernsee, DE
• Karl-Heinz Zeitler · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 1982
• Grant date: Mar 19, 1985
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3572
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical device, such as the switch, for controlling the passage of a light beam into and out of an end face of a waveguide such as a glass fiber includes utilizing either a layer or drop of liquid material to control the light passage. The liquid material can be a layer, which has changeable optical properties, which can occur by applying a magnetic field, heat or electrical field or the material can be a layer of electrolyte material which will precipitate a reflective layer or electrochromic layer in response to an application of an electrical field. In another embodiment, the liquid material may be moved into and out of engagement with the end face to change the reflective nature of the end face and to cause decoupling of light from the end face or block the transmission of light.