Optical switch

An optical switch, comprising:

• a first optical waveguide comprising a first optical sub-waveguide and a third optical sub-waveguide;
• a second optical waveguide comprising a second optical sub-waveguide and a fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have a junction therebetween;
• a first heater disposed adjacent the third optical sub-waveguide;
• a first dielectric material disposed between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide;
• and
• a second dielectric material disposed between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein a thermal conductivity of the first dielectric material is greater than a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric material, wherein the first heater comprises:
• a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode;
• a first heating resistor connected to the first dielectric material and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a second heating resistor connected to the first dielectric material and disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode;
• and
• wherein a distance between the second electrode and the junction is greater than a distance between the first electrode and the junction, a distance between the third electrode and the junction is greater than the distance between the second electrode and the junction, the first electrode and the third electrode have a same polarity, and the first electrode and the second electrode have opposite polarities, wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is greater than a distance between the second electrode and the third electrode.

An optical switch, comprising:

• a first optical waveguide comprising a first optical sub-waveguide and a third optical sub-waveguide;
• a second optical waveguide comprising a second optical sub-waveguide and a fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have a junction therebetween;
• a first heater disposed adjacent the third optical sub-waveguide;
• a first dielectric material disposed between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide;
• and
• a second dielectric material disposed between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein a thermal conductivity of the first dielectric material is greater than a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric material, wherein the first heater comprises:
• a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode;
• a first heating resistor connected to the first dielectric material and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a second heating resistor connected to the first dielectric material and disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode;
• and
• wherein a distance between the second electrode and the junction is greater than a distance between the first electrode and the junction, a distance between the third electrode and the junction is greater than the distance between the second electrode and the junction, the first electrode and the third electrode have a same polarity, and the first electrode and the second electrode have opposite polarities, wherein cross sections of the first heating resistor and the second heating resistor at a place that is at a distance from the junction are larger than cross sections of the first heating resistor and the second heating resistor at a place that is near the junction, and the cross sections are perpendicular to a transmission direction of a current.

An optical switch, comprising:

• a first optical waveguide comprising a first optical sub-waveguide and a third optical sub-waveguide;
• a second optical waveguide comprising a second optical sub-waveguide and a fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have a junction therebetween;
• a first heater disposed adjacent the third optical sub-waveguide;
• a first dielectric material disposed between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide;
• and
• a second dielectric material disposed between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein a thermal conductivity of the first dielectric material is greater than a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric material, wherein:
• the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have a same width, a height of the first optical sub-waveguide is different from a height of the second optical sub-waveguide, and a height difference between the first optical sub-waveguide and the second optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is greater than a height difference between the first optical sub-waveguide and the second optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction.