Silica optical circuit switch and method

Details Silica optical circuit switch and method Silica optical circuit switch and method

1996-10-18

1999-04-06

Bovernick, Rodney B.

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Switch

385 21, 385 5, G02B 610

Patent

active

058928634

ABSTRACT:
A thermally activated silica optical circuit switch that uses light from a light source, such as a laser, to heat various regions of the switch to produce a switching function. In one embodiment, the switch includes silica glass formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate, and at least one input waveguide and one output waveguide formed within the silica glass. A light source is then used to generate light that illuminates a path in the silica glass that couples a particular input waveguide to a particular output waveguide. The light from the light source has a wavelength that enables it to be substantially absorbed by the silica glass and substantially transmitted through the substrate. The illumination by the light increases the temperature and correspondingly the index of refraction of the silica glass in the path. A light signal is then able to travel through the coupled waveguides via the increased index of refraction of the silica glass within the path. In another embodiment, components of the switch are formed within the silica glass with at least one of the switch components being a thermally activated component to provide a switching function. Light from a light source illuminates the silica glass in a region of the thermally activated component to heat the component and cause the performance of the switching function.

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M. Haruna et al., Thermoptic Deflection and Switch in Glass, Applied Optics, vol. 21, pp. 3461-3465 (Oct. 1994).
B. H. Verbeck et al., "Integrated Four-Channel Mach-Zehnder Multi/Demultiplexer Fabricated with Phosphorous Doped SiO.sub.2 Waveguides on Si," Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 1011-1015 (1988), (Jun.).
Lee et al., "2.times.2 Single-Mode Zero-Gap Direction-Coupler Thermo-Optic Waveguide Switch on Glass," Applied Optics, vol. 33, No. 30, pp. 7016-7022 (Oct. 1994).
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