Patent · US Expired

Optical switch

US6014478A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
11References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1996
Grant dateJan 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3598
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical switch includes an optical transmission path having an optical transmission medium, an input-side end and an output-side end. A radiation source is associated with the input-side end for emitting a primary optoelectronic signal being coupled into the transmission path. A reflection device is associated with the output-side end for receiving the primary optoelectronic signal and converting the primary optoelectronic signal into a secondary, modulated optoelectronic signal being reflected and coupled back into the transmission path. A receiver is associated with the input-side end of the transmission path for responding to the secondary, modulated optoelectronic signal to perform an electronic switching operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.