EP0161683A2 — Optical switch circuit

Claim 1

Independent Claim 208 words

An optical switch circuit configured as a matrix having (m x n) crosspoints where m denotes the number of input optical channels and n denotes the number of output optical channels (m and n being a positive integer), wherein when the coordinates of an arbitrary crosspoint are expressed as (i, j) (i = 1, 2, ...m and j = 1, 2, ...n), there are arranged on the (m x n) crosspoints, a) optoelectric means for converting an input light signal transmitted via each of said input optical channels into an electric signal, b) electric circuit means responsive to a control signal to output an electric signal corresponding to an output electric signal from said optoelectric means, and c) light modulating means responsive to said electric signal from said electric circuit means to produce a modulated light signal, and wherein the optical switch circuit comprises: i) first means for distributing each of the m number of input light signals into the n number of optoelectric means defined by fixing the i-component of said coordinates of the arbitrary crosspoint, and ii) second means for optically combining each of light outputs from the m number of light modulating means defined by fixing the j-component of said coordinates of the arbitorary crosspoint.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 208 words

An optical switch circuit configured as a matrix having (m x n) crosspoints where m denotes the number of input optical channels and n denotes the number of output optical channels (m and n being a positive integer), wherein when the coordinates of an arbitrary crosspoint are expressed as (i, j) (i = 1, 2, ...m and j = 1, 2, ...n), there are arranged on the (m x n) crosspoints, a) optoelectric means for converting an input light signal transmitted via each of said input optical channels into an electric signal, b) electric circuit means responsive to a control signal to output an electric signal corresponding to an output electric signal from said optoelectric means, and c) light modulating means responsive to said electric signal from said electric circuit means to produce a modulated light signal, and wherein the optical switch circuit comprises: i) first means for distributing each of the m number of input light signals into the n number of optoelectric means defined by fixing the i-component of said coordinates of the arbitrary crosspoint, and ii) second means for optically combining each of light outputs from the m number of light modulating means defined by fixing the j-component of said coordinates of the arbitorary crosspoint.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means is comprised of an optical light splitter and said second means is comprised of an optical light combiner.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said lightmodulating means functions as an electrooptic means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said optoelectric means, said electric circuit means and said light modulating means constitute an optical gate switch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said optical gate switch comprises a light-sensitive-detector for detecting a light signal, a driver element coupled to said light-sensitive detector, and electrooptic means driven by said driver element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said light-sensitive detector and said driver element is comprised of a metal semiconductor field-effect transistor and said electrooptic means is comprised of a laser diode.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 4 or 5, wherein said optical gate switch comprises in combination a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a phototransistor, a light emitting diode, and a bipolar transistor etc.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 165 words

An optical switch circuit comprising in combination, a) an m number of optical splitters (m is a positive integer) for splitting a light signal entering from one input terminal into an n number of light signals (n is an integer more than two), b) optical switch means optically cascade- conneted to each output of said m number of optical splitters, said optical switch means comprising optoelectric means for converting said split light signals into electric signals, and electrooptic means for converting said electric signals into optical signals, and switch control means operative to effect a switch control for said optoelectric means and said electrooptic means, thus presenting a function to allow said split light signals from said m number of optical splitters to pass through said optical switch means in on-state and to prevent them from passing in off-state, and c) waveguide means cascade-connected to each of said optical switch means to allow said optical signals from said optical switch means to be outputted therefrom.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 165 words

An optical switch circuit comprising in combination, a) an m number of optical splitters (m is a positive integer) for splitting a light signal entering from one input terminal into an n number of light signals (n is an integer more than two), b) optical switch means optically cascade- conneted to each output of said m number of optical splitters, said optical switch means comprising optoelectric means for converting said split light signals into electric signals, and electrooptic means for converting said electric signals into optical signals, and switch control means operative to effect a switch control for said optoelectric means and said electrooptic means, thus presenting a function to allow said split light signals from said m number of optical splitters to pass through said optical switch means in on-state and to prevent them from passing in off-state, and c) waveguide means cascade-connected to each of said optical switch means to allow said optical signals from said optical switch means to be outputted therefrom.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 85 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 8, wherein when said optical switch circuit is provided with the m number of optical splitters (m is a positive integer more than two), said optical switch circuit is configured as a two dimentional planar matrix circuit having (m x n) crosspoints on which said optical switch means are arranged, said m number of optical splitters being connected to one surface of said planar matrix circuit, said waveguide means being connected to the other surface thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 103 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said matrix circuit comprises a phototransistor serving as a light receiving element comprising a collector layer, a base layer, and an emitter layer which are stacked on one surface of a substrate, and a light emitting diode serving as a light emitting element comprising a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer which are stacked on the other surface of said substrate, electrodes provided on the tops of said phototransistor and said photodiode, respectively, and a control signal source connected to said respective electrodes for switching a bias.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 65 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 10,wherein in said phototransistor, said collector layer is made of n -GaAs, said base layer is made of P-GaAs, said emitter layer is made of n -GaAlAs, and in said photodiode, said first cladding layer is made of n-GaAlAs, said active layer is made of n -GaAlAs and said second cladding layer is made of P-GaAlAs.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein said electrooptic means is operative to emit light signals having wavelengths different from each other to said optical splitters.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said waveguide means is configured as optical combiner means comprising a set of lenses for allowing optical signals from said electrooptic converters, and an interference film filter.for optically combining said optical signals directed in parallel by said set of lenses.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said waveguide means is configured as optical combiner means including an optical grating.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said waveguide means is configured as optical combiner means comprising a waveguide type multiplexer in which an optical grating is formed on a waveguide path.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 41 words

An optical switch circuit as set forth in claim 15, wherein when said waveguide type multiplexer employs InGaAsP/InP system as a constituent material, said waveguide type multiplexer of InGaAsP/InP system and said laser diode of said optoelectric means are monolithically integrated.

Optical switch circuit

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