Optical switch
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsMitsutoshi Honda, Takashi Naito, Tatsuya Sugita, Masahiko Ando
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical switch includes at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal, a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal, and a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores. A nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control a traveling direction of the optical signal is disposed near at least one of the plurality of waveguides.
Claims13
An optical switch comprising:
- at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal;
- a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal;
- and
- a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores;
- wherein a nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control a traveling direction of the optical signal is disposed near at least one of the plurality of waveguides.
An optical switch comprising:
- at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal;
- a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal;
- and
- a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores;
- wherein a nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control the reflection of the optical signal is disposed on a wall of at least one of the plurality of waveguides.
An optical switch comprising:
- at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal;
- a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal;
- and
- a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores;
- wherein a nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control the transmission/reflection of the optical signal is inserted in a hole formed in the waveguide.
An optical switch comprising:
- at least one light-receiving core for receiving an optical signal;
- a plurality of light-emitting cores which are used selectively for emitting the optical signal;
- and
- a plurality of waveguides connecting the light-receiving core and the plurality of light-emitting cores;
- wherein a nonlinear optical element which, when pumped, changes its refractive index by 2% or above relative to the surroundings to control the direction of the emitted optical signal is held between highly refractive substrates,
- an optical signal fallen on one of the highly refractive substrates is emitted through the other highly refractive substrate when the nonlinear optical element is not pumped, and
- an optical signal fallen on one of the highly refractive substrates is reflected by the same highly refractive substrate when the nonlinear optical element is pumped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.