Patent ID: 6404944
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An active semiconductor optical switch for a 1Ã—N interconnect switch, comprising:an input light channel; a plurality of output light channels; a steering section coupled between said input and output channels for selectively directing an input light signal from said input light channel to an M number of said plurality of output light channels, where M ranges from one to the total number of output light channels of said plurality, said steering section comprising first and second elongate electrical contacts and an elongate slab waveguide extending between said first and second electrical contacts, said slab waveguide formed from a material having an optical refractive index responsive to a first electrical current applied to one of said first and second electrical contacts; wherein application of a first and second electrical current to said first and second electrical contacts varies the refractive index of said slab waveguide thereabout so as to guide said input light signal to at least one of said plurality of output channels.