# US 10,481,466 B2 · Optical switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,466 B2 - Document ID: US10481466B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/179,631 - Filed: 2018-11-02 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-04 - Assignees: Huawei Technolgies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jiejiang Xing; Ming Li; Xin Tu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481466B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/3138: {the optical waveguides being made of semiconducting materials} - G02B 6/125: Bends, branchings or intersections - G02F 1/0147: {based on thermo-optic effects (G02F1/132 takes precedence)} - H05B 3/26: heating conductor mounted on insulating base {(for transparent areas H05B3/84, H05B3/86)} - H05B 2203/005: using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other - H05B 2203/035: Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The present application discloses an optical switch, including a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, and a first heater, where a place at which a distance between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is the smallest is a junction; the first heater is adjacent to the third optical sub-waveguide; and there is a first dielectric material between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide, and there is a second dielectric material between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide, where a thermal conductivity of the first dielectric material is greater than a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric material. The optical switch has advantages such as high heating efficiency, a small quantity of heaters, and simple control. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 height, a width of the first optical sub-waveguide is different from a width of the second optical sub-waveguide, and a width 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 width difference between the first optical sub-waveguide and the second optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein when the first heater is operating, a temperature of the third optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a first distance from the junction is higher than a temperature of the third optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a second heater disposed adjacent to the third optical sub-waveguide, wherein the first dielectric material is disposed between the second heater and the third optical sub-waveguide, a distance between the second heater and the junction is greater than a distance between the first heater and the junction, and a heating power of the second heater is greater than a heating power of the first heater. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is less than a distance between the first heater and the third optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first heater is disposed on an outer side of or above the third optical sub-waveguide, wherein the outer side of the third optical sub-waveguide is a side not adjacent to the fourth optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein when the first heater is operating, an effective refractive index of the third optical sub-waveguide is greater than an effective refractive index of the fourth optical sub-waveguide, and when the first heater is not operating, an effective refractive index of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than an effective refractive index of the fourth optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein: the width of the first optical sub-waveguide is greater than the width of the second optical sub-waveguide; and a width of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than a width of the fourth optical sub-waveguide, and a width difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is greater than a width difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein: the width of the first optical sub-waveguide is less than the width of the second optical sub-waveguide; and a width of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than a width of the fourth optical sub-waveguide, and a width difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is greater than a width difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein: the width of the first optical sub-waveguide is greater than the width of the second optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a second heater disposed adjacent the fourth optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The optical switch according to claim 10, wherein: when the first heater is operating and the second heater is not operating, an effective refractive index of the third optical sub-waveguide is greater than an effective refractive index of the fourth optical sub-waveguide; and when the first heater is not operating and the second heater is operating, an effective refractive index of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than an effective refractive index of the fourth optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The optical switch according to claim 10, wherein the second heater is disposed on an outer side of or above the fourth optical sub-waveguide, wherein the outer side of the fourth optical sub-waveguide is a side not adjacent to the third optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The optical switch according to claim 10, wherein the first dielectric material is disposed between the second heater and the fourth optical sub-waveguide. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The optical switch according to claim 16, wherein: the height of the first optical sub-waveguide is greater than a height of the second optical sub-waveguide; and a height of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than a height of the fourth optical sub-waveguide, and a height difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is greater than a height difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The optical switch according to claim 16, wherein: the height of the first optical sub-waveguide is less than a height of the second optical sub-waveguide; and a height of the third optical sub-waveguide is less than a height of the fourth optical sub-waveguide, and a height difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is at a distance from the junction is greater than a height difference between the third optical sub-waveguide and the fourth optical sub-waveguide at a place that is near the junction.