Optical switching arrangement

Details Optical switching arrangement Optical switching arrangement

1999-09-08

2001-11-27

Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Switch

C385S017000, C385S014000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06324315

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to optical switching arrangements, and is particularly concerned with such arrangements which have temperature dependent switching elements. In order to achieve reliable switching, the temperature can be quite critical, but because such optical switching arrangements may include a large number of switching elements, there is a need for a simple but effective control mechanism which does not rely on measuring the operating temperature, and which does not require calibration of the individual switching elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, an optical switching arrangement includes a thermo-optic switch having a plurality of heaters which are selectively energizable to route optical signals; means to apply a predetermined voltage to said heaters, and a power arrangement for applying pulsed current to energize said heaters, the mark-space ratio of the pulse current being variable to achieve a constant predetermined mean power value.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4560234 (1985-12-01), Shaw et al.
patent: 5517351 (1996-05-01), Hatakeyama
patent: 5653008 (1997-08-01), Sim et al.
patent: 2 251 096 A (1992-06-01), None
patent: WO 96/33441 (1996-10-01), None

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