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US 5,706,374 AGranted
Compact digital optical switch
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorJean-Francois Vinchant
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AssigneeAlcatel
InventorJean-Francois Vinchant
Estimating the term…
A digital optical switch in the shape of the letter "Y" at least an input optical waveguide and first and second output optical waveguides. Each output waveguide comprises at least a first part and a second part coupled by a transition in a transition region. An applied electrical control signal commands a refractive index difference between respective first parts of the output waveguides. At least one of the output optical waveguides has in a plane containing the output waveguides a guided propagation mode width that is lower in the second part than the mode width in the first part of the respective output waveguide. In a preferred implementation, the transition is an adiabatic transition. Applications include photonic routing and optical switching matrices.
Digital optical switch comprising two input optical waveguides and first and second output optical waveguides, said waveguides being mutually disposed at a crossover having the shape of the letter "X", said first and second output waveguides each comprising at least a first part at one end of said input waveguide and a second part at one end of said first part, said first and second parts being coupled by a transition in a transition region, and means for applying an electrical control signal that commands a refractive index difference between said respective first parts of said first and second output waveguides, wherein at least one of said output optical waveguides has in a plane containing said output waveguides a guided propagation mode width that is lower in said second part than the mode width in said first part of the respective output waveguide.
Digital optical switch comprising an input optical waveguide and first and second output optical waveguides, said waveguides being mutually disposed at a bifurcation having the shape of the letter "Y", said first and second output waveguides each comprising at least a first part at one end of said input waveguide and a second part at one end of said first part, said first and second parts being coupled by a transition in a transition region, and means for applying an electrical control signal that commands a refractive index difference between said respective first parts of said first and second output waveguides, wherein at least one of said output optical waveguides has in a plane containing said output waveguides a guided propagation mode width that is lower in said second part than the mode width in said first part of the respective output waveguide.
Digital optical switch according to claim 5 wherein said adiabatic transition is formed by etching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.