Patent ID: 6055344
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a switching element comprising steps of:providing a waveguide substrate having a plurality of optical waveguides, including a first waveguide and a second waveguide that intersect a trench such that optical coupling between said first and second waveguides is dependent upon a presence of a fluid at an intersection of said trench with said first and second waveguides;providing a heater substrate;forming at least one heater on a first surface of said heater substrate, including patterning a plurality of layers on said first surface;forming a fluid fill-hole through said heater substrate in a direction generally perpendicular to said first surface; andbonding said heater substrate to said waveguide substrate, including aligning said heater and waveguide substrates such that said trench is in fluid communication with said fluid fill-hole through said heater substrate and is in thermal communication with at least one heater on said first surface of said heater substrate.