Patent ID: 6320994
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising:a substrate including first and second waveguides, said first and second waveguides intersecting at a gap having a predetermined width, said first and second waveguides being positioned such that light traversing said first waveguide enters said second waveguide when said gap, said first region having parallel walls, is filled with a liquid having a first index of refraction while light traversing said first waveguide is reflected by said gap when said gap is filled with a gas, wherein said gap is part of a trench in said substrate, said trench having a first region containing said gap and a second region adjacent to said gap, said second region having a width greater than said width of said first region;a liquid having said first index of refraction disposed in said first region, said liquid generating a gas when heated to a predetermined temperature;a first heater disposed in said first region for heating said liquid to said predetermined temperature thereby generating a gas bubble in said liquid at said first region; anda displacement mechanism for causing said gas bubble in said first region to extend partially into said second region in response to a control signal.