EP0380983A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Semiconductor optical switch and array of the same
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1990-01-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor optical switch and an optical switch array for use in an optical logic circuit, photonic switching, OEIC, etc., wherein a light amplifying means (102) is provided on a bypass waveguide (101) that connects a plurality of optical waveguides (109), thereby enabling improvement of the light crosstalk and the light propagation loss. In particular, according to the arrangement of the present invention that a light amplifying means (102) is provided in addition to a deflecting portion (110), no noise component is amplified and therefore the SN ratio is markedly increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroaki Inoue
- 👤 Kazuhisa Uomi
- 👤 Koji Ishida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:34
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/313; G02F1/3137; G02F1/3138; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/50; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/0001; H04Q11/0005; H04Q2011/0007; H04Q2011/0015; H04Q2011/0037; H04Q2011/0041; H04Q2011/0052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising: a first waveguide for guiding a light wave; a second waveguide for guiding said light wave; propagation direction changing means disposed between said first and second waveguides to change the direction of propagation of said light were propagated through said first waveguide; a third waveguide connecting together said first and second waveguides to guide said light were from said first waveguide to said second waveguide; and light wave amplifying means provided on said third waveguide to amplify said light wave propagated through said third waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising: a first waveguide for guiding a light wave; a second waveguide for guiding said light wave; propagation direction changing means disposed between said first and second waveguides to change the direction of propagation of said light were propagated through said first waveguide; a third waveguide connecting together said first and second waveguides to guide said light were from said first waveguide to said second waveguide; and light wave amplifying means provided on said third waveguide to amplify said light wave propagated through said third waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light wave amplifying means has an optically active region which is excited by carrier injection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said optically active region is optically connected to said third waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said propagation direction changing means changes the direction of propagation of said light wave by utilizing a change in the refractive index of a semiconductor medium induced by carrier injection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operating timing of said light wave amplifying means and the operating timing of said propagation direction changing means are synchronized with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein said light wave amplifying means and said propagation direction changing means are activated by use of a common electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fourth waveguide which is different from said second waveguide for guiding the light wave propagated through said first waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The switch as set forth in claim 7, wherein said propagation direction changing means propagates said light wave propagated through said first waveguide to either said second or fourth waveguide in response to a signal externally applied to said propagation direction changing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fifth waveguide for guiding a second light wave other than the first light wave propagated through said first waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second waveguide propagated either said first or second light wave by the operation of said propagation direction changing means in response to a signal externally applied to said propagation direction changing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said fifth waveguide is connected to said propagation direction changing means such that said second light wave propagated through said fifth waveguide will not be propagated through said third waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second waveguide propagates either said first or second light wave in response to a signal externally applied to said propagation direction changing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light wave amplifying means has a monitor function for light wave discrimination.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The switch as set forth in claim 13, wherein said light wave amplifying means is connected with discrimination means for said light wave discrimination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light wave amplifying means has a gate function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The switch as set forth in claim 15, wherein said light wave amplifying means absorbs said first light wave when said first light wave need not be guided to said second waveguide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising: a plurality of input waveguides and a plurality of output waveguides; a plurality of switching function portions respectively disposed at the intersections of said input and output waveguides: and a plurality of light wave amplifying means provided in said switching function portions, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising: a plurality of input waveguides and a plurality of output waveguides; a plurality of switching function portions respectively disposed at the intersections of said input and output waveguides: and a plurality of light wave amplifying means provided in said switching function portions, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The switch as set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said switching function portions amplifies only a specific light wave.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The switch as set forth in claim 18, wherein said switching function portions have bypass waveguides which propagate only a light wave propagated through a specific one of said input waveguides, said light wave amplifying means being respectively provided in said bypass waveguides.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A semiconductor optical switch which receives a plurality of input light waves, amplifies only a specific input light wave selected from among the input light waves and outputs the amplified input light wave.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A semiconductor optical switch which receives a plurality of input light waves, amplifies only a specific input light wave selected from among the input light waves and outputs the amplified input light wave.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A semiconductor optical switch array comprising a combination of a plurality of semiconductor optical switches as set forth in any one of claims 1, 17 and 20.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising light amplifying means provided in a bypass waveguide which is defined by part of the slip of either a single or double slip structure type optical switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A semiconductor optical switch comprising light amplifying means provided in a bypass waveguide which is defined by part of the slip of either a single or double slip structure type optical switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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