Optically actuated optical switch apparatus and methods

Claim 2

An optically actuated optical switch comprising: means for providing a first optical beam directed into a switching medium, the switching medium being substantially transparent to the first optical beam; means for selectively providing a second optical beam, said second optical beam being directed into the switching medium and being at least partially interactive with the switching medium, whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by the second optical beam within the switching medium such that the path of the first optical beam varies in response to the intensity of the second optical beam as the first optical beam passes through the switching medium.

Claim 3

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said refractive index gradient results from a thermal gradient produced by said second optical beam.

Claim 4

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said thermal gradient comprises a thermally induced prism.

Claim 5

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said refractive index gradient is created by a photochemical effect induced by said second optical beam.

Claim 6

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching medium is a solid.

Claim 7

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching medium is a liquid.

Claim 8

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching medium is gaseous.

Claim 9

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 7 wherein said switching medium comprises a mixture of at least one absorbing gas and at least one inert gas.

Claim 10

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 8 wherein said inert gas is argon.

Claim 11

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 8 wherein said absorbing gas is dichlorodifluoromethane.

Claim 12

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching medium is a supercritical gas.

Claim 13

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing a first optical beam comprises a laser.

Claim 14

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 12 wherein said laser comprises a helium-neon laser.

Claim 15

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively providing a second optical beam comprises a laser.

Claim 16

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 14 wherein said laser produces a beam in the infrared region.

Claim 17

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 14 wherein said laser is a carbon dioxide laser.

Claim 18

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for selectively providing a second optical beam comprises a control means in communication with said carbon dioxide laser.

Claim 19

An optically actuated optical switch comprising: a switching medium; laser means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium, said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; laser means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium.

Claim 20

An optically actuated optical switch comprising: a switching medium; laser means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium, said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; laser means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium.

Claim 21

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said laser means for providing a signal beam comprises a helium-neon laser.

Claim 22

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 19 wherein said laser means for selectively providing a control beam comprises a laser which produces a beam in the infrared region.

Claim 23

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 20 wherein said laser means for selectively providing a control beam comprises a carbon dioxide laser.

Claim 24

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 21 wherein said refractive index gradient is created by a thermal gradient produced within said switching medium by said control beam.

Claim 25

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 22 wherein said thermal gradient comprises a thermally induced prism.

Claim 26

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 21 wherein said refractive index gradient is created by a photochemical effect induced by said control beam.

Claim 27

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said switching medium is a solid.

Claim 28

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said switching medium is a liquid.

Claim 29

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said switching medium is gaseous.

Claim 30

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 27 wherein said switching medium comprises a mixture of one or more absorbing gases and one or more inert gases.

Claim 31

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 28 wherein said inert gas is argon.

Claim 32

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 28 wherein said absorbing gas is dichlorodifluoromethane.

Claim 33

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said switching medium is a supercritical gas.

Claim 34

An optically actuated optical switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said control beam is capable of a plurality of intensities such that said signal beam is capable of being directed into a plurality of output paths.

Claim 35

An optically actuated optical "and" logic gate comprising: a switching medium; means for selectively directing a first input beam through said switching medium, said first input beam being chosen such that said first beam is partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beam passes through said switching medium; means for selectively directing a second input beam through said switching medium, said second input beam being chosen such that said second beam is partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beam passes through said switching medium, whereby the path of the first input beam varies in response to the second input beam as the first input beam passes through the switching medium and the path of the second input beam varies in response to the first input beam as the second input beam passes through the switching medium; and detection means positioned so as to detect at least one of said input beams while both beams are directed through said switching medium.

Claim 36

An optically actuated optical "and" logic gate comprising: a switching medium; means for selectively directing a first input beam through said switching medium, said first input beam being chosen such that said first beam is partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beam passes through said switching medium; means for selectively directing a second input beam through said switching medium, said second input beam being chosen such that said second beam is partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beam passes through said switching medium, whereby the path of the first input beam varies in response to the second input beam as the first input beam passes through the switching medium and the path of the second input beam varies in response to the first input beam as the second input beam passes through the switching medium; and detection means positioned so as to detect at least one of said input beams while both beams are directed through said switching medium.

Claim 37

An optically actuated optical "or" logic gate comprising: a switching medium; means for selectively directing a first input beam through said switching medium; means for selectively directing a second input beam through said switching medium; said switching medium and said first and second input beams being chosen such that said beams are partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beams pass through said switching medium, whereby the path of the first input beam varies in response to the second input beam as the first input beam passes through the switching medium and the path of the second input beam varies in response to the first input beam as the second input beam passes through the switching medium; and detection means positioned so as to detect said input beams while only one beam is directed through said switching medium.

Claim 38

An optically actuated optical "or" logic gate comprising: a switching medium; means for selectively directing a first input beam through said switching medium; means for selectively directing a second input beam through said switching medium; said switching medium and said first and second input beams being chosen such that said beams are partially absorbed by said switching medium thereby creating a thermal gradient within said switching medium when said beams pass through said switching medium, whereby the path of the first input beam varies in response to the second input beam as the first input beam passes through the switching medium and the path of the second input beam varies in response to the first input beam as the second input beam passes through the switching medium; and detection means positioned so as to detect said input beams while only one beam is directed through said switching medium.

Claim 39

An optically actuated optical amplifier comprising: a switching medium; means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium, said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; and means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam having less power than said signal beam, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium, whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium.

Claim 40

An optically actuated optical amplifier comprising: a switching medium; means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium, said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; and means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam having less power than said signal beam, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium, whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium.

Claim 41

An optically actuated optical switch comprising: a switching medium; means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam being capable of consisting of a plurality of intensities, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium, whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium; and a plurality of means for detecting said signal beam as it exits said switching medium, the position of said detecting means being chosen to correspond to the paths of said signal beam at the various intensities of said control beam.

Claim 42

An optically actuated optical switch comprising: a switching medium; means for providing a signal beam directed into said switching medium being substantially transparent to said signal beam; means for selectively providing a control beam, said control beam being capable of consisting of a plurality of intensities, said control beam being directed into said switching medium and being at least partially absorbed by said switching medium, whereby a refractive index gradient is produced by said control beam within said switching medium such that the path of the signal beam varies in response to the intensity of the control beam as the signal beam passes through said switching medium; and a plurality of means for detecting said signal beam as it exits said switching medium, the position of said detecting means being chosen to correspond to the paths of said signal beam at the various intensities of said control beam.