Optical switch using bubbles
AssigneeBell Communications Research, Inc.
InventorsJanet L. Jackel, Walter J. Tomlinson, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical switch, particularly useful as a bistable cross-connect matrix. Parallel input waveguides and parallel output waveguides are formed on a substrate at perpendicular angles so as to intersect. A 45.degree. slot is formed across each intersection and is filled with a fluid having a refractive index matching the waveguide material. Electrodes are positioned adjacent the slots and are selectively activated to electrolytically convert the fluid to gaseous bubbles, thereby destroying the index matching across the slot and causing light to be reflected by the slot rather than propagating across the slot. In the presence of a catalyst, a pulse of opposite polarity or of sufficient size and of the same polarity will destroy the bubble.
Claims14
An optical switch, comprising:
- a first optical waveguide formed on a surface of a substrate;
- a second optical waveguide formed on said surface of said substrate and intersecting said first waveguide at an intersection;
- a slot formed across said first and second waveguide at said intersection;
- a liquid selectively disposed in said slot;
- and
- means for selectively forming a gaseous bubble in said liquid in at least a portion of said slot adjacent said first and second waveguides at said intersection;
- wherein said forming means comprise electrolytic forming means for electrolyzing said liquid to create said bubble at said intersection;
- whereby a light signal propagating on said first optical waveguide selectively continues in said first optical waveguide across said intersection when said bubble is not formed at said intersection but is selectively switched to said second optical waveguide when said bubble is formed at said intersection.
An optical switching matrix, comprising:
- a plurality of first waveguides formed in a substrate and extending along a first direction;
- a plurality of second waveguides formed in said substrate, extending along a second direction non-parallel to said first direction and each of said second waveguides serially intersecting all of said first waveguides at respective intersections;
- slots formed across said first and second waveguides at at least some of said intersections and capable of containing a fluid movably disposed in said slots;
- and
- electrolytic forming means for electrolyzing said liquid to selectively form a gaseous bubble in said liquid in said slots adjacent to a selected one of said intersections
- whereby said bubble being formed at said selected intersection causes a light signal propagating on a selected one of said first waveguides to be selectively
An optical switch, comprising:
- optical waveguiding means formed in an intersecting structure;
- apertures formed in said structure at respective intersections of portions of said structure;
- a fluid movably disposed in said apertures;
- and
- means for electrolyzing said fluid adjacent to said intersections to create a bubble in said fluid;
- whereby creation or destruction of said bubble adjacent to at least one of said intersections causes light signals to be selectively switched between portions of said optical waveguiding means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.