Optical switch
US4828362A · kind A · utility
28Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 1986 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/315
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switching device comprises an optical waveguide formed from two light-transmitting materials having an interface between them, and in which the refractive index of one of the materials can be altered by an external influence; the other has a light path directed at the interface at an angle such that by varying the refractive index of the first material the light can either pass through the material or be reflected at the interface. By utilizing a plurality of such interfaces in sequence the light may be selectively switched along several different paths.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.