Patent ID: 7177495
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: G02B,G02F,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A 1×N optical switch comprising: a two-port optical switch connected to an input waveguide, and capable of continuously adjusting its optical output intensity from a first output to a second output; a switch section including one or more two-port optical switches connected in cascade to the output(s) of said two-port optical switch, and having its outputs connected to N output waveguides, where N is an integer equal to or greater than three; a plurality of gate optical switches, each of which is connected to one of the output waveguides and capable of continuously adjusting its optical output from transmission to interruption; a driving power supply circuit for driving said two-port optical switches and said gate optical switches, all the two-port optical switches and gate optical switches sharing said driving power supply circuit; and electrical digital switches, each of which is connected to one of said two-port optical switches or said gate optical switches for interrupting a driving current from one of said driving power supply circuits.