Waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch

A waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch comprising an optical waveguide including a pair of first and second cores close to each other, for switching an optical path between said pair of first and second cores, said switch further comprising:

• a third core made of nematic liquid crystal enclosed in between a pair of oriented films and oriented in a predetermined direction by said pair of oriented films, said third core being disposed in any one of a space covering said first and second cores in parallel with a plane containing optical axes of said first and second cores, a space sandwiched between said first and second cores and a space covering upper surfaces of said first and second cores so as to be laid over said first and second cores;
• a pair of electrodes disposed on a surface of said third core opposite to said first and second cores, said pair of electrodes being provided for orienting liquid crystal molecules in a direction perpendicular to the direction of orientation of said oriented films;
• and
• a clad for collectively surrounding said first, second and third cores and said pair of electrodes.

A waveguide type liquid-crystal optical switch comprising an optical waveguide including a pair of first and second cores close to each other, for switching an optical path between said pair of first and second cores, said switch further comprising:

• a third core made of nematic liquid crystal enclosed in between a pair of oriented films and oriented in a predetermined direction by said pair of oriented films, said third core being disposed in a space sandwiched between said first and second cores;
• two pairs of electrodes disposed on an outer upper surface of said third core close to said first core and an outer lower surface of said third core close to said second core, respectively, along opposite sides of said first and second cores;
• and
• a clad for collectively surrounding said first, second and third cores and said two pairs of electrodes.

An optical switch comprising:

• first and second cores;
• a third core of nematic liquid crystal disposed proximate the first and second cores, the third core defining a first side and a second side opposite from the first side with respect to the third core;
• and
• at least two electrodes disposed in the first side.