Optical routing element for use in fiber optic systems
US6356679B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3574
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical routing element (ORE) that can be incorporated into a variety of configurations, to provide the basis for such devices as crossbar switches, wavelength division multiplexers, and add/drop multiplexers. The ORE includes first, second, and third waveguide segments. The first and second waveguide segments extend along a common axis, and are separated by a routing region. The third waveguide segment extends from the routing region at a non-zero angle with respect to the common axis. The routing region is occupied by a selectively reflecting element that selectively reflects light based on a state of the element or a property of the light. The selectively reflecting element may be a thermal expansion element (TEE) or a wavelength-selective filter. A TEE has a body of material having contracted and expanded states at respective first and second temperatures. The contracted state defines an air gap disposed in the path of light traveling along the first waveguide segment so as to cause the light to be deflected into the third waveguide segment through total internal reflection. The expanded state removes the air gap so as to allow the light traveling along the first waveguide s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.