Optical switch
US6445845B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3596
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switch for switching a light path between two optical waveguides is provided. The switch has a slit formed diagonally cutting across the crossing point of crossing optical waveguides and a substance in the slit has a function of transmitting or reflecting an optical signal is selectively held in the slit. The slit is narrower than cores of the optical waveguides, and has a center line formed on a bisection of an interior angle between optical axes of the crossing optical waveguides. Thus, the substance in the slit serves to make optical intensity reflected to each of the optical waveguides uniform. Further, a crossing optical waveguide consists of a reflecting structure having its interior filled with air during reflection and the intersecting angle between the first group of optical waveguides is between 0 to 90 degrees and preferably substantially between 73 and 74 degrees.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.