Optical switch having spatial light modulators

Details Optical switch having spatial light modulators Optical switch having spatial light modulators

1993-12-21

1995-01-03

Lee, John D.

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Switch

385 24, 385115, G02B 626

Patent

active

053793587

ABSTRACT:
Replacing costly electro-optic or fused quartz crystalline structures or molded plastic optical waveguide splitters with an optical switch comprising an array of spatial light modulators between two relatively, thick, optical glass flats. Associated with each spatial light modulator are partial holes in the optical glass flats with the partial holes being in alignment with the spatial light modulator. Using a new experimentally-developed laser technique, these holes can be drilled to a precise depth so that the distance between the ends of standard silica optical fibers inserted into opposing holes approximates the diameter of those fibers. Since the diameter of a partial hole is insignificant compared to the overall area of an optical glass flat, the physical strength of the optical glass flats is not reduced even when a number of partial holes are drilled into the optical glass flats. In addition, since thick optical glass flats are used, the contrast ratio and switching speed of such an optical switch is not impaired.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4927230 (1990-05-01), Tokumitsu
patent: 4991924 (1991-02-01), Shankar et al.
patent: 5009477 (1991-04-01), Alferness et al.
patent: 5018812 (1991-05-01), Fukuda
patent: 5177804 (1993-01-01), Shimizu et al.
patent: 5185824 (1993-02-01), Grimes et al.

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