Optical switching apparatus and method
US5080504A · kind A · utility
12Cited by
1References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q11/0003
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for switching unpolarized light are provided. The apparatus includes GaInAs/GaAs optical switching devices which can be fabricated using conventional processes on a single wafer in matrix arrangement to provide an n.times.m cross bar switch. Switching is accomplished by shifting the band gap of the GaInAs material of a device using electrical or optical power to heat the material. Each switching device may comprise two-polarity (n/p) or single polarity (n or p) semiconductor materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.