Apparatus and method for an optical switch having a 2×1 multi-mode interferometer and photodetector
US9684131B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/3136
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for an improved 2×1 switch cell design with integrated photodiode for off-state monitoring. In an embodiment, am optical switch comprises a 2×1 multi-mode interferometer (MMI) coupler including two input waveguides jointly coupled to an output waveguide, and a photodetector coupled to an edge of a first waveguide of the input waveguides, and positioned next to a side of the output waveguide. In another embodiment, an optical chip comprises two input waveguides parallel to each other, and an output waveguide coupled to the two input waveguides. The optical chip further includes a photodetector coupled to a first waveguide of the two input waveguides, and positioned next to the output waveguide, and a branch waveguide extending from the first waveguide into the photodetector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.