Liquid crystal optical switching device

Claim 2

A liquid crystal optical switching device which comprises: a first transparent member, said first transparent member having a liquid crystal material overlying one surface thereof; means, extending into said first transparent member, for receiving a plurality of optical fibers; and means for switching at least a portion of a light beam impinging on said liquid crystal material from one of said optical fibers to another optical fiber.

Claim 3

Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said optical fiber receiving means includes a blind hole.

Claim 4

Device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: means, associated with each said optical fiber receiving means, for collimating said light beam.

Claim 5

Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said light beam collimating means is a bead lens disposed within said blind hole.

Claim 6

Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light beam switching means includes: means for selectively establishing an electromagnetic field in said liquid crystal material.

Claim 7

Device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said electromagnetic field establishing means includes: first and second spaced apart electrodes; and means for impressing a control voltage thereon whereby the refractive index of said liquid crystal material is changed, said change of said refractive index being dependent upon the magnitude and polarity of said control voltage.

Claim 8

Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one surface is an optically flat surface.

Claim 9

Device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a second transparent member having one surface thereof opposing said one surface of said first transparent member, said liquid drystal material being disposed between said one surfaces of said first and second transparent members; and means, extending into said second transparent member, for receiving at least one optical fiber.

Claim 10

Device as claimed in claim 8 wherein each optical fiber receiving said means extending into said first transparent member includes a blind hole disposed at about the critical angle to said one surface of said first transparent member and said optical fiber receiving means extending into said second transparent member includes a blind hole disposed at about the critical angle to said one surface of said second transparent member.

Claim 11

Device as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: means, associated with each said optical fiber receiving means, for collimating a light beam.

Claim 12

Device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said light beam collimating means is a bead lens within said blind hole.

Claim 13

Device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said light beam switching means includes: means for selectively establishing an electromagnetic field in said liquid crystal material.

Claim 14

Device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said electromagnetic field establishing means comprises: a first electrode, said first electrode overlying said one surface of said first transparent member; and a second electrode, said second electrode overlying said one surface of said second transparent member.

Claim 15

Device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising: means for impressing a control voltage on said first and second electrodes whereby the refractive index of said liquid crystal material is changed, said change being dependent upon the magnitude and polarity of said control voltage.

Claim 16

Device in claim 13 further comprising: means, between said first and said second electrode and said liquid crystal material, for matching the refractive indices thereof.

Claim 17

Device as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: means, between said first electrode and said first transparent member, for matching the refractive indices thereof; and means, between said second electrode and said second transparent electrode, for matching the refractive indices thereof.

Claim 18

A liquid crystal optical switching device comprising: a first transparent member having an optically flat surface and having first and second ports, each said port including means, extending into said first transparent member at about the critical angle to said optically flat surface, for receiving an optical fiber and oriented such that a light beam entering via one of said ports and internally reflected by said optically flat surface exits said first transparent member via the other said port, said first transparent member having an electrode overlying said optically flat surface; a second transparent member substantially identical to said first transparent member, said first and second transparent members being spaced apart and having liquid crystal material disposed between said optically flat surfaces thereof; and means for switching at least a portion of a light beam entering via any said port of said members from one other of said ports to another one of ports.

Claim 19

A liquid crystal optical switching device comprising: a first transparent member having an optically flat surface and having first and second ports, each said port including means, extending into said first transparent member at about the critical angle to said optically flat surface, for receiving an optical fiber and oriented such that a light beam entering via one of said ports and internally reflected by said optically flat surface exits said first transparent member via the other said port, said first transparent member having an electrode overlying said optically flat surface; a second transparent member substantially identical to said first transparent member, said first and second transparent members being spaced apart and having liquid crystal material disposed between said optically flat surfaces thereof; and means for switching at least a portion of a light beam entering via any said port of said members from one other of said ports to another one of ports.

Claim 20

Device as claimed in claim 17 wherein each said tranparent member includes an input port and an output port.

Claim 21

Device as claimed in claim 17 wherein each said port includes a collimating lens.

Claim 22

Device as claimed in claim 19 wherein each said optical fiber receiving means includes a blind hole, each said blind hole being cooperatively sized to receive said collimating lens therein.

Claim 23

Device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising: means for retaining said liquid crystal material between said first and second transparent members.

Claim 24

Device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said retention means includes a plurality of spacers, said spacers being substantially completely inert to said liquid crystal material.

Claim 25

A liquid crystal optical switching apparatus; said apparatus comprising: a first liquid crystal optical switching device having first and second transparent members, and said first and second members having a base surface associated therewith, said base surfaces being spaced apart by liquid crystal material, said first transparent member having first input and output ports associated therewith, said second transparent member having a second output port associated therewith; a second liquid crystal optical switching device, having third and fourth transparent members, each said third and fourth members having a base surface associated therewith, said base surfaces spaced apart by liquid crystal material, said third transparent member having third input and output ports associated therewith, said fourth transparent member having fourth input and output ports associated therewith; means, associated with each said input and output port having means, extending into said transparent member associated therewith, for receiving an optical fiber; means for sustaining an electromagnetic field in said liquid crystal material; a first optical path between said first output port and said third input port; and a second optical path between said second output port and said fourth input port.

Claim 26

A liquid crystal optical switching apparatus; said apparatus comprising: a first liquid crystal optical switching device having first and second transparent members, and said first and second members having a base surface associated therewith, said base surfaces being spaced apart by liquid crystal material, said first transparent member having first input and output ports associated therewith, said second transparent member having a second output port associated therewith; a second liquid crystal optical switching device, having third and fourth transparent members, each said third and fourth members having a base surface associated therewith, said base surfaces spaced apart by liquid crystal material, said third transparent member having third input and output ports associated therewith, said fourth transparent member having fourth input and output ports associated therewith; means, associated with each said input and output port having means, extending into said transparent member associated therewith, for receiving an optical fiber; means for sustaining an electromagnetic field in said liquid crystal material; a first optical path between said first output port and said third input port; and a second optical path between said second output port and said fourth input port.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said second transparent member further comprises: a second input port.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said optical fiber receiving means includes a blind hole extending into said members associated therewith at about the critical angle.

Claim 29

Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 further comprising: means, associated with each said port and disposed in each said blind hole, for collimating a light beam passing therethrough.

Claim 30

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said electromagnetic field sustaining means includes first, second, third and fourth electrodes overlying said base surfaces.

Claim 31

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 further comprising means for matching the refractive indices of each said electrode and said liquid crystal material.

Claim 32

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 further comprising: means for matching the refractive indices of said electrodes and said base surfaces associated therewith.