Optical switch matrix

Abstract

A matrix optical switch that can switch the transmission path of an optical signal without requiring a driving unit for each optical switch is realized. A matrix optical switch for switching a transmission path of an optical signal by connecting plural input sides and plural output sides, respectively, comprises: a semiconductor optical waveguide substrate; a photo mask choosing system for selecting and arranging one photo mask from plural photo masks each of which has printed thereon a pattern connecting plural input sides to plural output sides; and a light source for casting output light having larger energy than a band gap of the semiconductor optical waveguide substrate onto a photon injection area between the plural input sides and the plural output sides on the semiconductor optical waveguide substrate via the selected photo mask.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.