Patent ID: 6987901
Filing Date: 2006-01-17
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical switch comprising: a substrate; a first buried optical waveguide for propagating an optical signal, where said optical signal propagates in the first optical waveguide along a first direction and under total internal reflection off of a first surface of the substrate at a total internal reflection region; a second buried optical waveguide extending in a second direction different than the first direction; and a diffractive optical element disposed above the total internal reflection region of the substrate and moveable relative thereto between a switching position above the substrate and in evanescent coupling with the optical signal propagating under total internal reflection off of the first surface wherein the optical signal is switched from the first optical waveguide into the second optical waveguide and a non-switching position wherein the optical signal reflects off of the first surface under total internal reflection and within the first buried optical waveguide.