Optical switch for use with optical fibers
US5091984A · kind A · utility
21Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 1990 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3131
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switch for switching an optical path by changing the refractive index of the circumference of a light coupling region of a directional coupler is disclosed. Such a change is accomplished by a photochromic compound in the circumferential medium of the light coupling region. Such a photochromic compound when beamed with light of a specific wavelength undergoes a photochromic reaction which changes the refractive index of the circumferential medium of the light coupling region. Such a reaction is reversible when beamed with light of another specific wavelength.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.