Thermo-optical switch provided with a laterally shifted element

• Main Authors: PROPSTRA, KORNELIS, BORREMAN, ALBERT, HOEKSTRA, TSJERK HANS
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 21.10.1999
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; RELAYS; SELECTORS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

The invention pertains to a thermo-optical switch comprising at least one input channel, one output channel, two switching channels, and one heating element, where for at least part of the cross-sections of the switch the position of the heating element has been selected such that the difference in effective refractive index, in the switched state, between two of the output channels in said cross-section is at least 80% of the maximally attainable difference. As a result, the load on the switches can be reduced substantially, increasing their lifespan.