Optical switching element enclosing two parallel lightguides and switching Matrix constituted with such elements

Abstract

Abstract Optical switching element enclosing two light guides constituted by parallel linear strips (GH), coupled by a distance d, produced from a semiconducting material of index n, on a semiconducting substrate of index n0 < n1 and provided with electrodes (Eii) for switching light from one to the other, wherein the first guide (G'ii) is connected, on the one hand, to an inlet (INi), and, on the other hand, to a direct output (I'i) of the switching element, wherein the second guide (Hii) is provided beyond the zone of the electrodes (Eii) with a plane mirror at 45 DEG to its optical axis which reflects the light in a guide (H'ii) perpendicular to (Hii), wherein (H'ii) is coupled by a distance d to a guide (G'ii), the guides (H'ii) and (G'ii) being provided with electrodes (E'ii) for directing light towards the outlet (Oi) of the guide (G'ii) and wherein the systems of the guides (G'ii), (Hii), (H'ii), (G'ii) are covered with a planar layer of a semiconducting material for confinement with the exception of the region (Qii) of the mirror (Mii). <IMAGE>

Inventors

• 👤 Marko Erman
• 👤 Rémi Gamonal

Bibliographic Details