Evanescent wave tunneling optical switch and network
US6823098B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3596
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical switch for routing light between two waveguides is disclosed. The switch, or router, comprises a movable waveguide, the movable waveguide having two positions, wherein in a first position the movable waveguide is interposed between the two waveguides and transmits light between the two waveguides by evanescent wave coupling, and in the other position the movable waveguide is retracted from the two waveguides and is not transmitting light between the two waveguides. Means for moving the movable waveguide between the two positions is also disclosed. The optical switches are used in M×N optical routing arrays being capable of directing light from any one of the M input ports to any one of the N output ports with additional ADD/DROP functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.