One-by-N optical switch

Details One-by-N optical switch One-by-N optical switch

2007-01-30

2007-01-30

Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Particular coupling structure

C385S022000, C385S009000

Reexamination Certificate

active

10771562

ABSTRACT:
An all-optical one-by-N optical switch is provided that has fewer components, is easier to control and has fewer optical losses that prior art one-by-N optical switches. An optical switch of the present invention includes an active deflection element formed from an electro-optical material to deflect an optical input from a single input to a selected one of N outputs. In one embodiment of the present invention, a single active deflection element at the input deflects an optical signal across a waveguide that commonly connects the N outputs. The N optical outputs include passive optical elements that are aligned with the deflected optical signal to accept a signal and provide it to a selected optical output. The optical switch can either be monolithic, where the optical material are all electro-optical materials, or can be hybrid, having separately formed components, such as the common waveguide, adhered to the substrate on which the optical switch is formed.

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Technology Thesarus Corp—OSW Optical Switch Series, “OSW2600 2XN Optical Switch,” (2 pgs.), www.ttcone.com.
Technology Thesarus Corp—OSW Optical Switch Series, OSW2700 1XN Optical Switch (2 pgs.), www.ttcone.com.
LIGHTech Fiberoptics, Inc., “1Xn Optical Switch —LT500,” (2 pgs.) San Leandro, CA, www.lightech.net.
NTT Electronics Corporation, “Photonic Network Innovation —1XN Optical Switch,” (2 pgs.), Aug. 2001, Ibaraki, Japan.
Technology Thesarus Corp—OSW Optical Switch Series, “OSW2600 2XN Optical Switch,” (2 pgs.), www.ttcone.com, Aug. 2001.
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LIGHTech Fiberoptics, Inc., “1Xn Optical Switch—LT500,” (2 pgs.) San Leandro, CA, www.lightech.net, Oct. 2001.

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