Controllable integrated optical directional coupler

US5157748A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Gustav Mueller · Munich, DE
• Lothar Stoll · Hersbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 14, 1991
• Grant date: Oct 20, 1992
• Expiry date: Aug 14, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/3133
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An integrated optical directional coupler is formed of two strip waveguides integrated on a substrate. A strip waveguide section in a coupling section of the directional coupler is designed as a controllable strip waveguide. The strip waveguides outside of this section are passive strip waveguides. In order to guarantee a largely polarization-dependent function of this coupler and of an optical switch realized therewith, the passive waveguides comprise a defined, different strip waveguide structure than the controllable strip waveguide.