Total internal reflection optical switch

An optical switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar waveguide circuit supported by said substrate, said planar waveguide circuit and said substrate collectively defining a trench, said trench including a first trench region and a second trench region adjacent said first trench region, said second trench region having a width greater than said first trench region, said planar waveguide circuit including a first waveguide and a second waveguide intersecting at said first trench region and positioned such that light traversing said first waveguide enters said second waveguide when an index-matching material is present in said first trench region, and otherwise is reflected by said first trench region;
• an index-matching liquid located in at least part of said first trench region;
• a working fluid located in said second trench region;
• and
• a piezoelectric transducer located in said second trench region for displacing part of said working fluid into said first trench region to interpose said index-matching liquid between said waveguides.

An optical switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar waveguide circuit supported by said substrate, said planar waveguide circuit and said substrate collectively defining a trench, said trench including a fist trench region and a second trench region adjacent said first trench region, said second trench region having a width greater than said first trench region, said planar waveguide circuit including a first waveguide and a second waveguide intersecting at said first trench region and positioned such that light traversing said first waveguide enters said second waveguide when an index-matching material is present in said first trench region, and otherwise is reflected by said first trench region;
• an index-matching liquid located in at least part of said first trench region;
• a working fluid located in said second trench region;
• and
• a diaphragm coupled to said second trench region for displacing part of said working fluid into said first trench region to interpose said index-matching liquid between said waveguides.

An optical switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar waveguide circuit supported by said substrate, said planar waveguide circuit and said substrate collectively defining a trench, said trench including a first trench region and a second trench region adjacent said first trench region, said second trench region having a width greater than said first trench region, said planar waveguide circuit including a first waveguide and a second waveguide intersecting at said first trench region and positioned such that light traversing said first waveguide enters said second waveguide when an index-matching material is present In said first trench region, and otherwise is reflected by said first trench region;
• an index-matching liquid located in at least part of said first trench region;
• a working fluid located in said second trench region;
• and
• a micromechanical device located in said second trench region for displacing part of said working fluid into said first trench region to interpose said index-matching liquid between said waveguides.

An optical switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar waveguide circuit supported by said substrate, said planar waveguide circuit and said substrate collectively defining a trench, said trench including a first trench region, a second trench region adjacent said first trench region, said second trench region having a width greater than said first trench region, and a third trench region adjacent said first trench region and remote from said second trench region, said third trench region having a width greater than said first trench region, said planar waveguide circuit including a fist waveguide and a second waveguide intersecting at said first trench region and positioned such that light traversing said first waveguide enters said second waveguide when an index-matching material is present in said first trench region, and otherwise is reflected by said first trench region;
• an index-matching liquid located in at least part of said first trench region;
• a working fluid located in said second trench region and in said third trench region said working fluid and said Index-matching liquid partially filling said first trench region so that a bubble of a low refractive index material additionally exists in said first trench region;
• displacing means, coupled to said second trench region and to said third trench region, for displacing part of said working fluid from said second trench region to interpose said index-matching liquid between said waveguides and for displacing part of said working fluid from said third trench region to interpose said bubble between said waveguides.