Optical switch

US5319492A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Reimund Dorn · Schwieberdingen, DE
• Peter Kersten · Leonberg, DE
• Werner Rehm · Heidelberg, DE
• Wiltraud Wischmann · Gerlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 18, 1992
• Grant date: Jun 7, 1994
• Expiry date: May 18, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2203/02
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical switch has a substrate and a transparent material in which a three-dimensional diffraction pattern is recorded which is capable of diffracting light, the material having non-linear optical properties and extending in the form of a first layer above the substrate. At least one first electrode and at least one second electrode are provided for varying the diffraction pattern in accordance with applied voltages.