Switchable optical components
OwnerLawrence H. Domash, Brent Littleinventors
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Abstract
This invention relates to a number of components, devices and networks involving integrated optics and/or half coupler technology, all of which involve the use of electronically switchable Bragg grating devices and device geometries realized using holographic polymer/dispersed liquid crystal materials. Most of the components and devices are particularly adapted for use in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems and in particular for use in switchable add/drop filtering (SADF) and wavelength selective crossconnect. Attenuators, outcouplers and a variety of other devices are also provided.
Claims7
A method of fabricating an integrated optical network having a plurality of nodes, with at least one ESBG formed at each of said nodes including:
- forming selected optical waveguides in a substrate, at least selected ones of said waveguides passing through selected ones of said nodes;
- forming an ESBG with electrodes at each node;
- and
- covering the waveguides and ESBGs
- wherein said forming an ESBG step includes forming an electrode film and a H-PDLC film at each node, and exposing the H-PDLC film at each node to form an ESBG grating thereon.
An integrated optical network having N guided wave optical inputs, and M guidewave optical outputs, said network including:
- an optical waveguide connected to each input and to each output, said weveguides intersecting at nodes;
- and
- an ESBG switch component at each node which is operative to either pass an optical signal on one waveguide intersecting at the node on the one waveguide or to transfer at least a portion of such optical signal to the other waveguide intersecting the node, depending on the state of the ESBG;
- wherein all of said waveguides have substantially the same index n, and wherein the ESBG switch component at each node includes an ESBG having a grating with an index contrast n in optical contact with each waveguide, and at least one waveguide interconnecting the ESBGs, said waveguide having an index n2, where n1−n2≧Δn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.