Fast optical switch having reduced light loss

Details Fast optical switch having reduced light loss Fast optical switch having reduced light loss

1990-07-31

1992-02-25

Gonzalez, Frank

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Switch

385 16, 25022714, G02B 610

Patent

active

050908243

ABSTRACT:
An electrically controlled optical switch uses an electro-optic crystal of the type having at least one set of fast and slow optical axes. The crystal exhibits electric field induced birefringence such that a plane of polarization oriented along a first direction of a light beam passing through the crystal may be switched to a plane of polarization oriented along a second direction. A beam splitting polarizer means is disposed at one end of the crystal and directs a light beam passing through the crystal whose plane of polarization is oriented along the first direction differently from a light beam having a plane of polarization oriented along the second direction. The electro-optic crystal may be chosen from the crystal classes 43m, 42m, and 23. In a preferred embodiment, the electro-optic crystal is a bismuth germanium oxide crystal or a bismuth silicon oxide crystal. In another embodiment of the invention, polarization control optics are provided which transmit substantially all of the incident light to the electro-optic crystal, substantially reducing the insertion loss of the switch.

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"Final Technical Report, Fast Optical Switch for Mulimode Fiber Optic Based Control Systems, Phase I", Prepared by Geo-Centers, Inc., under Contract No. NAS-25615, Aug., 1989.
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