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EP0241143A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Opto-electronic directional switch
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1987-03-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-10
Abstract
Abstract An opto-electronic switch which shows a good signal rejection ratio between modes is also of particularly small dimensions. The switch comprises a semiconductor laser 1 having four contacts 12, 12ʹ, 13, 13ʹ which provide gain guiding under two stripe windows 18, 19. By varying the bias currents supplied to the individual contacts 12, 12ʹ, 13, 13ʹ, or by inputting optical control signals to the waveguiding channels under the stripe windows 18, 19, different configurations of optical output from the laser 1 can be achieved. The two contacts, 12, 12ʹ and 13, 13ʹ, associated with each stripe window 18, 19 are effectively a single stripe contact with a discontinuity. It is thought that diffractive transverse coupling at the discontinuity allows the use of a shorter device than in known directional switches. With feedback, the switch operates as a memory device. The switch finds particular application in optical communications, for instance in signal routing.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Hugh White
- 👤 John Edward Carroll
- 👤 Richard Steven Linton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/313; G02F1/3132; G02F1/3133; G02F1/01; G02F1/015; G02F1/0151; G02F1/0152; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/062; H01S5/06233; H01S5/06243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An opto-electronic switch, comprising a semiconductor injection laser structure capable of providing optical gain in at least two distinguishable waveguiding paths which are at least partially defined by current injection contacts, the paths being neighbouring in a region where there is a discontinuity in the contacts, and control means for varying the characteristics of a first of the paths relative to a second of the paths such that the relationship between light output from the two paths can be changed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An opto-electronic switch, comprising a semiconductor injection laser structure capable of providing optical gain in at least two distinguishable waveguiding paths which are at least partially defined by current injection contacts, the paths being neighbouring in a region where there is a discontinuity in the contacts, and control means for varying the characteristics of a first of the paths relative to a second of the paths such that the relationship between light output from the two paths can be changed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A switch according to Claim 1, wherein the configuration of the waveguiding paths where they are neighbouring in the region of the discontinuities, and of the associated contacts at the discontinuities, is such that optical radiation propagating in one path can couple into the other path by means of diffraction at the discontinuities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switch according to either one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein the laser structure is provided with sufficient optical feedback substantially to exclude travelling wave operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A switch according to any one of Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the control means comprises means to vary the relative levels of current injected along each of the paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means comprises means to input an optical signal to at least one of the paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switch according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the contacts comprise parallel, neighbouring stripe contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A switch according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the laser structure is used to generate optical radiation in at least one of the paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An opto-electronic switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
An opto-electronic switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the laser structure is used to amplify an optical signal input to at least one of the paths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A switch according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the laser structure is a Fabry-Perot laser structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there is further provided a discontinuity in each of the paths adjacent the discontinuity in its respective contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switch according to Claim 11 wherein the discontinuity in each of the paths comprises a pair of facets in the semiconductor materials of the laser structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A matrix switch incorporating a switch according to any one of the preceding claims.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A memory device incorporating a switch according to any one of the preceding Claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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