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Y-branch-based thermo-optic digital optical switches and variable optical attenuators with non-uniform heating

a digital optical switch and variable optical technology, applied in the field of optical communication technology, can solve the problems of limiting the applicability of integrated optical circuits, difficult control of such devices, and easy error prone manufacturing

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-07-13
EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a 1×2 planar optical waveguide signal splitter in the form of a Y-branch with a trunk and two branches conjoined thereto to form a vertex. One of the branches has a heating means that creates a spatially non-uniform heat flux. The heating means raises the temperature of the branch to change the relative intensity of the propagating optical signal in the two branches. The technical effect of this invention is an optical switching function that can control the signal intensity in two branches simultaneously.

Problems solved by technology

One persistent problem presented to the designer by the Y-branches of the art is footprint.
Controlled fabrication of such devices is quite difficult and error prone.
Furthermore, the large footprint of such devices greatly limits their applicability in integrated optical circuitry.

Method used

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  • Y-branch-based thermo-optic digital optical switches and variable optical attenuators with non-uniform heating
  • Y-branch-based thermo-optic digital optical switches and variable optical attenuators with non-uniform heating
  • Y-branch-based thermo-optic digital optical switches and variable optical attenuators with non-uniform heating

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0054] In this Example, the following terms are employed:

[0055] The composition designated B3 was prepared by combining 94% by weight of ethoxylated perfluoropolyether diacrylate (MW1100), 4% by weight of di-trimethylolpropane tetraacrylate, and 2% by weight of Darocur 1173, a photoinitiator available from Ciba-Geigy.

[0056] The composition designated BF3 was prepared by combining 98% by weight of ethoxylated perfluoropolyether diacrylate (MW1100) and 2% by weight of Darocur 1173.

[0057] The composition designated C3 was prepared by combining 91% by weight of ethoxylated perfluoropolyether diacrylate (MW1100), 6.5% by weight of di-trimethylolpropane tetra-acrylate, 2% by weight of Darocur1173, and 0.5% by weight of Darocur 4265 a different photoinitiator available from Ciba Geigy.

[0058] The following fabrication process was performed twice, once with mask designated P03, once with mask designated P05 (see FIG. 2 for structures of each mask).

[0059] A 6-inch oxidized silicon wafer ...

example 2

[0062] A second Y-branch specimen, prepared in a manner identical to that in Example 1, was evaluated according to the following protocol: The measurement was done in 2 steps:

[0063] 1. 1.55 micrometer wavelength light was coupled from a glass optical fiber input into the Y-branch trunk and after traversing the device the light was couple to a glass optical fiber at the output of the ‘right’ branch and was sent to a photodetector. Electrical power was applied to the left branch heater and was changed continuously from 50 mW to 0 mW, then electrical power was applied to the right heater and was changed continuously from 0 mW to 50 mW. The optical power attenuation measured at the photodetector is indicated by the blue line in FIG. 6.

[0064] 2. Light was launched as in the preceding paragraph. but was coupled to a photodetector at the output of the ‘left’ branch Electrical power was applied to the right heater and was changed continuously from 50 mW to 0 mW, then electrical power was ...

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Abstract

The present invention is concerned with 1×2 thermo-optic digital optical switches known in the art as “Y-branch digital optical switches” and variable optical attenuators.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is concerned with optical communications technology. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with 1×2 thermo-optic digital optical switches known in the art as “Y-branch digital optical switches” and variable optical attenuators. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND [0002] Digital optical spatial switches (DOS) are well known in the art. One class of such switches is the 1×2 digital optical switch known as a “Y-branch digital optical switch” (Y-branch DOS) wherein light input into the “base” or trunk of the Y is directed through one or the other of the output branches by virtue of changes effected in the refractive index of one or both of the output branches. The switch can also be operated in reverse, whereby one or the other “upper branches” of the Y can be selected as an input channel with the base of the Y being the output channel. Y-branches are a fundamental building block of optical circuitry, and may be employed singly, or in...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G02B6/26G02F1/295G02B6/42G02F1/01G02F1/313
CPCG02B6/125G02F1/0147G02F1/3137G02F2201/122G02F2202/022G02F2203/48G02B6/26G02B6/42
Inventor ELDADA, LOUAY
Owner EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO
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