Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Switch
Patent
1994-01-31
1995-04-18
Ullah, Akm E.
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Switch
G02B 610
Patent
active
054085489
ABSTRACT:
In a first feature of the invention, an optical switching element is a semi-transparent, metallic film having variable absorption and transmission depending upon whether one or two optical signals are present. The metallic film can be illuminated from opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to its plane by two optical signals or can be illuminated obliquely at the same angle of incidence from opposite sides by two optical signals. In another embodiment, the metallic film is located between two optical waveguides. In a second feature of The invention, an optical switching element is an optically active material that rotates the plane of polarization of an optical input signal in the absence of an optical control signal and rotates the plane of polarization of the optical input signal to a lesser degree in response to an optical control signal. The optical input signal and the optical control signal have .pi. radians phase difference in the optical waveguide and have the same plane of polarization.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3448282 (1969-06-01), Fleisher et al.
patent: 3637287 (1972-01-01), Hansen
patent: 3849740 (1974-11-01), Brandt
patent: 3984785 (1976-10-01), Riseberg et al.
patent: 4128300 (1978-12-01), Stotts et al.
patent: 4262992 (1981-04-01), Berthold, III
patent: 4363106 (1982-12-01), Tai
patent: 4376285 (1983-03-01), Leonberger et al.
patent: 4632518 (1986-12-01), Jensen
patent: 4674828 (1987-06-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 4689793 (1987-08-01), Liu et al.
patent: 4707081 (1987-11-01), Mir
patent: 4761060 (1988-08-01), Sawano
patent: 4786128 (1988-11-01), Birnbach
patent: 4811258 (1989-03-01), Andersen et al.
patent: 4863247 (1989-09-01), Lasher et al.
patent: 4867515 (1989-09-01), Normandin
patent: 4875181 (1989-10-01), Hagemeyer
patent: 4900115 (1990-02-01), Heuring et al.
patent: 4910737 (1990-03-01), Payne et al.
patent: 4915486 (1990-04-01), Hansen
patent: 4922497 (1990-05-01), Mori et al.
patent: 4926366 (1990-05-01), Cuykendall et al.
patent: 4932739 (1990-06-01), Islam
Hinton, H. S., Architectural Consideration . . . Networks, IEEE J. on Sel. Areas in Comm., vol. 6, No. 7, pp. 1209-1226 Aug. 1988.
Schmidt, R. V. et al, Optically Induced Crosstalk in LiNbO3 Waveguide Switches, J. Appl. Phys., vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 90-93, Jan. 1980.
Alferness, R. C., Ent Waveguide Electro-Optic . . . , Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 36, No. 7, pp. 513-515, Apr. 1980.
Alferness, R. C. et al, High Speed Waveguide Electro-Optic Polarization Modulator, Optics Letter, vol. 7, No. 10, pp. 500-502, Oct. 1982.
Thaniyavarn, S., Wavelength-Independent, Optical-Damage-Immune . . . Optics Letters, vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 39-41, Jan. 1986.
Sanford, N. A. et al, Direct-Current Bias Stable . . . , Optics Letters, vol. 12, No. 7, pp. 531-533, Jul. 1987.
Lam, J. F. et al, Dynamics of Optical . . . , Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 45, No. 11, pp. 1172-1174, Dec. 1984.
Sanford, N. A. et al, Simplified Z-Propagating DC Bias . . . , IEEE J. of Lightwave Tech., vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 898-901, Jun. 1988.
Becker, R. A., Methods of Char. Photorefractive . . . , SPIE., vol. 578, Integ. Optical Cir. Eng. II, pp. 12-18, 1985.
Glass, A. M., The Photorefractive Effect, Optical Engineering, vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 470-479, Sep.-Oct. 1978.
Sanford, N. A., Optical Damage Effects in Z-Propagating . . . , SPIE, vol. 704, pp. 58-61 Integ. Optical Cir. Engl. IV, 1986.
McCarroll, T., "Harnessing the Speed of Light", Time, Feb. 12, 1990, p. 71.
LandOfFree
Optical switches does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical switches, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical switches will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-71992