Optical switch device
US7050230B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/06
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Light incident on an input optical fiber is separated into p-polarized light and s-polarized light by a birefringent crystal. A voltage to be applied to a liquid crystal element having electrodes associated with the ray axes of the polarized light waves is controlled in order to convert the p-polarized light into s-polarized so that both the polarized light waves will be s-polarized light. A polarized-wave separation film transmits p-polarized light and reflects s-polarized light. When both the polarized light waves propagated through the liquid crystal element are s-polarized light, the light reflected from the polarized-wave separation film is reflected from a total-reflection film, and reflected again from the polarized-wave separation film. The resultant light falls on the birefringent crystal again via the liquid crystal element, and is restored to non-polarized light by the birefringent crystal. The non-polarized light then falls on a first output optical fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.