Back to results
US 2026/0287968 A1Published application
Optical Detection and Optical Switch Based on Interference between Narrow Beams
OwnerChian Chiu Liinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for optical detection and optical switches. In optical detection, a weak beam and a strong beam have a width smaller than the wavelength and are spaced apart by a distance smaller than the wavelength. Interference between the beams is used to detect the weak beam. In optical switching, two beams have a width smaller than the wavelength and are spaced apart by a distance smaller than the wavelength. The beams interfere to generate an output beam. One of the beams is used to control the output beam to perform optical switching.
Claims20
An optical switch, comprising:
- a first waveguide with a first width in a first direction and a first height in a second direction, extending in a third direction, and arranged for transmitting a first beam of a wavelength;
- a second waveguide with a second width in the first direction and a second height in the second direction, extending in the third direction, and arranged for transmitting a second beam of the wavelength;
- and
- a third waveguide with a third width in the first direction and a third height in the second direction and extending in the third direction, wherein the first, second, and third directions are perpendicular to each other, a first end of the first waveguide and a second end of the second waveguide are aligned, a first spacing is arranged between the first and second waveguides in the first direction, a second spacing is arranged between the second end of the second waveguide and a third end of the third waveguide in the third direction, the first and second beams are emitted through the first end and the second end respectively and arranged for forming an output beam, the third waveguide is arranged for receiving the output beam through the third end, and the first width, the second width, and the first spacing are smaller than one and a half times of the wavelength, respectively.
1 more element
A method for optical switching, comprising:
- providing a first waveguide with a first width in a first direction and a first height in a second direction, extending in a third direction, and arranged for transmitting a first beam of a wavelength;
- providing a second waveguide with a second width in the first direction and a second height in the second direction, extending in the third direction, and arranged for transmitting a second beam of the wavelength;
- providing a third waveguide with a third width in the first direction and a third height in the second direction and extending in the third direction, wherein the first, second, and third directions are perpendicular to each other, a first end of the first waveguide and a second end of the second waveguide are aligned, a first spacing is arranged between the first and second waveguides in the first direction, a second spacing is arranged between the second end of the second waveguide and a third end of the third waveguide in the third direction, the first and second beams are emitted through the first end and the second end respectively and arranged for forming an output beam, the third waveguide is arranged for receiving the output beam through the third end, and the first width, the second width, and the first spacing are smaller than one and a half times of the wavelength, respectively;
- and
- using the first beam to control power of a beam obtained from the output beam by the third waveguide to perform switching.
2 more elements
A method for optical switching, comprising:
- providing a first waveguide with a first width in a first direction and a first height in a second direction, extending in a third direction, and arranged for transmitting a first beam of a wavelength;
- providing a second waveguide with a second width in the first direction and a second height in the second direction, extending in the third direction, and arranged for transmitting a second beam of the wavelength;
- providing a third waveguide with a third width in the first direction and a third height in the second direction and extending in the third direction, wherein the first, second, and third directions are perpendicular to each other, a first end of the first waveguide and a second end of the second waveguide are aligned, a first spacing is arranged between the first and second waveguides in the first direction, a second spacing is arranged between the second end of the second waveguide and a third end of the third waveguide in the third direction, the first and second beams are emitted through the first end and the second end respectively and arranged for generating an output beam, the third waveguide is arranged for receiving the output beam through the third end, and the first and second beams are transmitted into a space with dimensions smaller than one and a half times of the wavelength in the first and second directions;
- and
- using the first beam to control power of a beam received by the third waveguide from the output beam to perform the optical switching.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.